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Augsburg Now Summer 2010
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Augsburg Now Summer 2010: Auggies On Stage
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AUGSBURG NOW SUMMER 2010 VOL. 72, NO. 3 inside auggies Augsburg Now Magazine of Augsburg College 25The Years of Life-Changing StepUP program Environmental literature Travel 10 reasons to come back Coach Mark Matzek ® Commencement 2010 Exploring Our Gifts page 20 on Stage Editor Bets...
Show more AUGSBURG NOW SUMMER 2010 VOL. 72, NO. 3 inside auggies Augsburg Now Magazine of Augsburg College 25The Years of Life-Changing StepUP program Environmental literature Travel 10 reasons to come back Coach Mark Matzek ® Commencement 2010 Exploring Our Gifts page 20 on Stage Editor Betsey Norgard norgard@augsburg.edu notes from President Pribbenow Creative Director Kathy Rumpza ’05 MAL rumpza@augsburg.edu Creative Associate-Editorial Wendi Wheeler ’06 wheelerw@augsburg.edu Creative Associate-Design A new mission statement and Commission Augsburg Jen Nagorski ’08 nagorski@augsburg.edu Photographer o ver the past two years, the Augsburg community has been engaged in a lively and rich conversation about our character and identity. Augsburg last modified its mission statement nearly 20 years ago, and although much that defines Augsburg’s distinctive identity as a college of the church in the city has remained constant, there also have been some remarkable changes. The expansion of nontraditional undergraduate programs, several new graduate programs, campus sites in Rochester and Bloomington, significant work around the world, and continuing initiatives to meet the needs of diverse students have combined to make Augsburg a more complex and, I would argue in addition, a more innovative and faithful college. Given the reality of Augsburg’s current missionbased work, the College community explored together how we might state our mission in such a way as to affirm our abiding values and commitments, while also to articulate how the College’s circle of influence and impact has expanded. The result of those explorations is a wonderfully nuanced and meaningful new mission statement, enthusiastically adopted by the Board of Regents at its spring 2010 meeting. Augsburg College educates students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders. The new mission statement begins with a bold claim of our aspirations for our students as we send them out to live their callings in the world. As citizens, stewards, thinkers, and leaders, Augsburg graduates bring their education and experience to bear in all aspects of their lives and work. The Augsburg experience is supported by an engaged community, committed to intentional diversity in its life and work. This important statement of our selfunderstanding is an explicit reference to our values as a participatory community—very much in line with our Lutheran Free Church heritage—dedicated to the common work of educating all of our students. At the same time, we reaffirm our abiding sense of the im- portance of intentional diversity—diversity of experience, background, and thought—that is supported by our theological, academic, and civic legacies. An Augsburg education is defined by excellence in the liberal arts and professional studies, guided by the faith and values of the Lutheran Church, and shaped by our urban and global settings. This closing sentence lifts up our core values: excellence across all academic programs, the particular gifts of our Lutheran faith, and the central role that our place in the world plays in the education we offer. The circle has been widened to reflect how Augsburg embraces its distinctive role in higher education. I could not be more pleased with the participation of the entire community in crafting this new mission statement. As we move into the next academic year, I am excited to announce an opportunity for all Augsburg alumni and friends to learn more about how our mission sets in place a clear map for our future. Beginning this fall, we will launch Commission Augsburg, a series of conversations that bring together those across the country who care about Augsburg to explore three strategic pathways for Augsburg’s work in the years ahead: Stephen Geffre geffre@augsburg.edu (1) We will create and sustain a culture of innovation and excellence. Opinions expressed in Augsburg Now do not necessarily reflect official College policy. (2) We will help all of our students to succeed. Webmaster/Now Online Bryan Barnes barnesb@augsburg.edu Director of News and Media Services Jeff Shelman shelman@augsburg.edu Sports Information Director Don Stoner stoner@augsburg.edu Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Communication Rebecca John rjohn@augsburg.edu Director of Alumni and Constituent Relations Kim Stone stonek@augsburg.edu www.augsburg.edu Augsburg Now is published by Augsburg College 2211 Riverside Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55454 (3) We will tell Augsburg’s story in word and deed. ISSN 1058-1545 Please watch for opportunities to gather and to learn more about the key initiatives the Augsburg community intends to pursue in order to live out its mission and to honor its distinctive saga as a college of the Lutheran Church. Your perspectives will help shape Augsburg’s future. Send address corrections to: Advancement Services CB 142 Augsburg College 2211 Riverside Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55454 langemo@augsburg.edu E-mail: now@augsburg.edu Telephone: 612-330-1181 Fax: 612-330-1780 PAUL C. PRIBBENOW, PRESIDENT a summer 2010 7 12 16 Features 24 contents 20 27 augsburg now 7 12 16 20 24 27 Commencement 2010 A step in the right direction by Wendi Wheeler ’06 10 reasons to come back to campus by Jeff Shelman Learning from the environment by Wendi Wheeler ’06 Nine years on the mats by Jeff Shelman Making connections by Wendi Wheeler ’06 Departments inside front cover On the cover Tessa Flynn ’05, community engagement manager and teaching artist with the Children’s Theatre Company, is one of the theatre alums who talks about making connections and the importance of those connections to their life after Augsburg. All photos by Stephen Geffre unless otherwise indicated. 2 4 6 33 36 40 Notes from President Pribbenow Around the Quad Auggie voices It takes an Auggie Alumni news Class notes My Auggie experience around the quad A project of steel Not many senior projects require countless hours spent shaping steel with a hammer and finishing it with sandpaper and steel brushes. But Josh Davis’ project wasn’t like most. For more than two years, Davis spent the vast majority of his free time working to construct a full suit of armor. The project, which was on display during Zyzzogeton—Augsburg’s celebration of student research and creative activity—was featured both in the Star Tribune and The Chronicle of Higher Education. The suit is made out of sheet steel of varying thickness and includes 20 individual pieces, many of which are smaller pieces riveted together, that fit like a puzzle to form the complete armor. Each leg, for example, is 13 separate pieces of steel, some of which were placed on top of each other to increase strength. Building the suit required Davis to shape the steel with a hammer—pounding heated steel over or into a form to produce the required curves—while using a pattern specially developed to fit him. Davis also made each of the buckles and straps on the suit. To call it a labor-intensive process would be an understatement. After originally keeping track of the time on the project, Davis stopped when he reached 1,000 hours, the equivalent of 25 weeks of eight-hour workdays. “The hardest part is finishing it,” Davis said. “I can rough out a form in an hour or two, but fine-tuning it, sanding out the hammer marks, and making the Josh Davis’ suit of armor took two years and hinges and buckles took a long time.” painstaking work to construct. Dal Liddle receives NEH summer research stipend Dal Liddle, associate professor of English, received a National Endowment for the Humanities summer stipend for travel to London to test a hypothesis he’s been formulating. Liddle, whose research focuses on Victorian literature, is spending three weeks in England poring over the private archives of the London Times and the early Victorian holdings of the British Library. Using Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, editorial articles from British papers, and Brontë’s Jane Eyre, he will try to test whether current theories about the historical development of technology will also fit the way British literature developed between 1800 and 1850. What if literary history turns out to change in some of the same ways that technological history changes? Could the history of novels and poems show some of the same patterns as the history of steam engines, microchips, and jet airplanes? “I'm taking a big chance,” he says about his research question. “There’s a big disprovability factor here, but if I’m wrong I want to prove it.” NewsNotes The Nursing Department launched a three-year Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Augsburg’s first doctoral degree, that prepares nurses for advanced practice and leadership in transcultural and community/public health nursing. The DNP is a cohort program that begins in the fall. David Tiede, retiring after five years as the Bernhard Christensen Professor of Religion and Vocation, has accepted the interim presidency of Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa. Two new summer camps are bringing young people to campus. Two week-long film camps in July bring high school students together to work with 16mm film, teaching them techniques for scripting, directing, and editing. The Minnesota Debate and Advocacy Workshop brings middle and high school students together with the state’s top coaches in a two- or three-week institute. The deaths of two retired faculty are noted. Robert Herforth, professor emeritus of biology, died on June 18. He is remembered as an extraordinary zoologist who remained very much engaged in current research throughout his life. Rosalie Clark, who taught in the Social Work Department from 1979 for more than a dozen years, died in January 2009. She brought perspectives on American Indian issues to faculty and students and encouraged social work graduates. AUGSBURG NEWS SERVICE 2 Augsburg Now Three faculty members retire from the classroom Julie Bolton—Theatre’s “artist-educator” Curt Paulsen—Social work professor, mentor Paul Grauer—Coach, mentor, teacher Thirty-five years ago, Julie Bolton, a professional actor, was hired part time to teach acting. She soon became full time, added courses, hired faculty, and began to build a theatre arts program, which she then chaired for 12 years, plus four more years when it became a new department. Building on her connections in Twin Cities theatre, Bolton both pushed students to get internships in the theatre community and helped them explore vocations in theatre. And, she brought theatre artists to campus to work with students. She hired faculty whose varied expertise helped create a comprehensive, professional theatre arts program within a liberal arts education. Bolton reflects with pride and gratitude on the collaboration in the mid-1980s that helped bring about Augsburg’s black box theater in Foss Center, with the support of President Charles Anderson, Dean Ryan LaHurd, and donors Barbara (Tjornhom) ’54 and Richard Nelson. Bolton considers herself an “artist-educator” and has used her theatre knowledge in the docent tours she gives at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. “If we are looking at Rembrandt’s Lucretia,” she says, “I introduce similar themes in Shakespeare’s epic poem Lucretia or Hamlet’s soliloquies.” In addition to expanding her role as a docent, Bolton also looks forward to spending time as grandmother to her five grandchildren. Social work professor Curt Paulsen often sang to himself on the way to his classrooms—just one indication of the joy he received every day in teaching. “Just as I have pushed my students,” he explains, “they have also pushed me, and I’m grateful for it.” He found continuing satisfaction in the “joint enterprise of reaching great understanding.” Paulsen taught both undergraduate and graduate students in the Social Work Department and, together with his wife, Cathy, taught a personality theory course to graduate students in the leadership program. He has also taught in the Religion Department and Honors program. Paulsen enjoyed most working with students who weren’t functioning to their ability. With respect, and in an atmosphere of intellectual rigor, he pushed them to their point of real reaction, with high expectations, helping them not only to learn, but to grow as people. It meant facilitating a process where students moved from answers to questions. Paulsen always considered liberal arts and crossing disciplines as “just the beginning of lifelong learning.” For him, “To gain a real understanding of human beings, one must go to the poets and to great literature.” Paulsen now anticipates more time for photography, reading, gardening, and for his family—Cathy, their two daughters and husbands, and four grandchildren. Paul Grauer says that even after 31 years, Augsburg has always been “exactly where I wanted to be.” He served long stints as coach, athletic director, and instructor, and he lists a whole series of strong relationships, high points, and changes that kept it interesting. A big change is the continual improvement of athletic facilities that has made it more likely that recruits will choose Augsburg—early in his tenure he recalls one hockey recruit who told him that Augsburg “had no curb appeal.” In addition, the continual development of the Health and Physical Education Department that now includes exercise science can prepare students for varied careers in teaching, fitness, and training. Grauer recalls 1997–98 as “a special, magical year,” when four Auggie teams— football, men’s basketball, men’s hockey, and wrestling—won conference championships and went to national playoffs, resulting in a wrestling championship and a hockey Frozen Four appearance. Among the high points was the celebration in 2007 of the 35th anniversary of Auggie varsity women’s sports, some of which pre-date the Title IX era. Grauer prepared and submitted early reports for Title IX that “showed we had to pay attention to equality,” and which spurred further expansion of women’s sports. Grauer will always remember the friendships, the colleagues, and the continual growth he’s seen both with the coaches and student-athletes in their training, resiliency, and good sportsmanship in a very competitive athletic conference. Grauer now looks forward to having more time to play his trumpet—especially at Augsburg in the brass ensemble. For Auggie sports news and schedules, go to www.augsburg.edu/athletics. BETSEY NORGARD Summer 2010 3 auggie voices Exploring Our Gifts— looking back over 8 years In 2002 Augsburg received a $2 million grant from the Lilly Endowment to integrate a theological understanding of vocation into the life of the College over a five-year period. In 2007 the grant was renewed for $1 million to cover an additional three years. As of summer 2010, the funding from the Lilly Endowment has ended. The College has now established the Augsburg Center for Faith and Learning in order to sustain a number of the programs of the Lilly Endowment grants and to support new initiatives on vocation. Mark Tranvik, associate professor of religion and chair of the Religion Department, was director of Exploring Our Gifts. He reflects about the impact of Exploring Our Gifts on Augsburg’s curriculum and experience. Q: Why did Augsburg apply for the Lilly Endowment grant? A: We should be clear that the Lilly Endowment grant didn’t introduce vocation to Augsburg College. Augsburg began as a seminary, and it had a sense of calling embedded into its DNA. Throughout much of its history, students, faculty, and staff came to the College out of a deep sense of calling. They saw their work here as an expression of what God wanted them to do with their gifts and talents. I think some of that sensibility was lost at a lot of our church colleges during the 1970s and ’80s, Augsburg included. But the idea of vocation never went away, and the Lilly Endowment money provided the school with an opportunity to bring new energy and imagination to the concept. In other words, it was natural for Augsburg to apply for the grant, given our heritage. Q: Why do you think the Lilly Endowment grant has been successful? A: The group who worked on the original application, led by Carol Forbes, Academic Affairs, and Bruce Reichenbach, Philosophy Department, did a wonderful job in making sure the proposal “fit” with the culture at Augsburg. Instead of “top-down” planning, they made sure to solicit proposals from a wide variety of groups on campus. They received more than 30 proposals for projects and were able to whittle that down to 16. When the money actually arrived to fund the projects, a campus-wide conversation had already been going on for some time. In my mind, the genius here is the way this is consistent with the ethos of the school. Augsburg is a college deeply rooted in the traditions of the Lutheran Free Church, and the egalitarian spirit of that church still pervades this community. 4 Augsburg Now Professor Mark Tranvik directed Exploring Our Gifts, Augsburg’s Lilly Endowment program to explore vocation. Q. Didn’t a lot of schools receive Lilly Endowment grants? What’s distinctive about Augsburg’s? A: The Lilly Endowment’s initiative on vocation was incredibly generous. More than 80 colleges and universities, many of them church-related, received grants. And to no one’s surprise, the grants seemed to work especially well at Lutheran schools. This is because the theology of vocation was developed in new ways by Martin Luther and the other reformers in the 16th century. Those places that trace their heritage back to the Reformation found it easier, in general, to talk about vocation on their campuses. One of the distinctive things about Augsburg is the way the College has been willing to integrate a theological understanding of vocation into its core curriculum. This has been one of the fruits of our discussion about vocation on campus. All Augsburg students are required to take two religion classes that have vocation at the center—Religion 100 and 200, Christian Vocation and the Search for Meaning I and II, respectively. Furthermore, all students are asked to think about vocation again in their senior seminars. So, you could say that vocation serves as the “bookends” for the Augsburg educational experience. And we also hope that students will be asked in other classes to think about their sense of calling. Of course this will happen, but it’s more dependent on the inclination of individual instructors. Q: What about the specific vocation of ministry? How has the grant helped students who are thinking about working in the church? A: One program of the grant that has worked well in this area is the Lilly Scholars. Every year, 10 juniors or seniors were chosen to take part in a fullcredit seminar dedicated to thinking theologically about vocation and receive a scholarship from the grant. The main prerequisite for the course is to be interested in studying about vocation in-depth. And some of these students do not sense a calling in the institutional church, which is fine. But over half of the participants (about 50 over the eight years) have decided to study theology after receiving their degrees at Augsburg. This is one important way the College continues its long tradition of developing leaders for the church. Q: It is especially important for colleges to document their successes. Is there evidence that the programs of the Lilly Endowment grant have actually made a difference? Purpose: To integrate a theological understanding of vocation into the life of Augsburg College Programs 2002–2010 Total participants Alumni mentoring Student vocation assessments 265 1,962 International exploration 263 Lilly Scholars 82 Church leader development 100 Lilly Interns 54 Youth Theology Institute ~125 Orientation, Augsburg Seminar 2,600 Forums 2,450 Till & Keep journal (copies) Vocatio Chapel 3,600 ~3,600 Interreligious dialogue 471 Courtesy photo A: Augsburg has been fortunate in that it was selected, along with Luther College and Augustana College of Rock Island (both of whom also had received Lilly Endowment grants), to participate in a study by the Wilder Foundation that assessed how effectively vocation had been integrated into these schools. The results were gratifying. They showed significant progress made in helping students view their lives through the lens of vocation. For example, students who had exposure to Lilly Endowment programs were more likely (50% to 23%) to see their life as a “calling,” with a sense of purpose, than those who were not exposed to the grant. Furthermore, 91% of the class of 2007 reported that their understanding of vocation deepened while at college. Go to www.augsburg.edu/cfl to read the full study. Exploring Our Gifts—Augsburg’s Lilly Endowment grant program Q: The Lilly Endowment grant on vocation seems to be strongly rooted in the Christian tradition. Yet Augsburg also stresses the importance of diversity and the acceptance of people from a wide variety of faiths and backgrounds. How do you answer those who suggest that this stress on vocation is done at the expense of diversity? A: That’s a great question and one that many of us have struggled with during the time of the grant. I think I would answer it on two different levels. First, the emphasis on vocation is a way in which we are trying to be faithful to our mission statement and its claim that Augsburg will be “guided by the faith and values of the Lutheran Church.” We are a college of the church, and that is nothing about which we should be ashamed. As one of the Lilly vocation seminars, students in the Religion and the Christian Faith course in 2005 Second—and this is the point that is often misundertraveled to El Salvador to study the legacy of Archbishop Oscar Romero and to explore the depth of stood—I would argue that our Christian faith and emphasis Christian vocation in daily life there. on vocation do not lead to exclusivity and the formation of a community of the like-minded. Jesus spent a good deal of his ministry breaking down walls and crossing so-called “forbidden” boundaries. In a similar vein, I would argue that an emphasis on diversity naturally flows from our Christian faith. We are not diverse in spite of being Christian. Rather, we are diverse because we are Christian. Now this can make life messy, especially for those who insist on nice boxes with neat straight lines. But as Christians we gladly welcome the “world” to our campus and the plurality of faiths and beliefs that come with it. We promise we won’t “coerce” anyone to be Christian (as if that would work!), but we do ask that a respectful and public discussion on faith occur. And we also insist that both sides be open to be challenged and changed. Summer 2010 5 it takes an Auggie StepUP® parents are grateful for support to students and families When Maureen and Harold Thompson realized their daughter Anne was not going to graduate from high school with her friends, they were devastated but not surprised. They knew that something was wrong and that their daughter needed help. Anne went into treatment for drug and alcohol addiction and then began attending daily recovery meetings. During this second phase of her recovery, she worked hard to complete her high school graduation requirements. Anne impressed her teachers and others with her hard work, and her parents thought the situation was under control. This sense of security and relief quickly faded when they discovered that Anne had relapsed. Anne returned to treatment, this time at the Hazelden Center for Youth and Families, where she learned about Augsburg College and the College’s StepUP program for students in recovery. Anne entered StepUP in 2004 and graduated from Augsburg in 2008. She is now a graduate student in higher education and student affairs at the University of Connecticut. “We feel that StepUP has allowed our daughter to attend college, continue with her recovery, and experience college life. Anne has learned to deal with the stresses of projects, schedules, papers, and exams while developing a safe and solid support network. She worked hard in class, and she has worked hard on her recovery. We don’t think this could have happened anywhere else.” Maureen and Harold remain thankful for all that Augsburg did for their daughter and continues to do for other students. That’s one of the reasons they consistently support the StepUP program, The Augsburg Fund, and more. “The StepUP program reinforces the belief that each program participant is accountable. They are accountable to themselves, to their peers, and to the StepUP staff. We believe that the program provided an environment that allowed Anne to blossom and grow, and allowed our family to heal.” “We believe that the program provided an environment that allowed Anne to blossom and grow, and allowed our family to heal.” “StepUP allowed me to go to college,” Anne says. “College is hard for students in general, but students in recovery have all the same challenges that others have and more. This program allowed me to have a ‘traditional’ college experience, which would otherwise be unavailable.” Maureen also noted, “It has been often said that someone with an addiction impacts at least four other people. We believe that StepUP not only helps the student, but it also helps the family, and for that we are eternally grateful.” WENDI WHEELER ’06 Courtesy photo Maureen and Harold Thompson are proud parents as their daughter, Anne, graduated from Augsburg and the StepUP program in 2008. 6 Anne speaks to a campus group about her experiences at Augsburg and in the StepUP program. Augsburg Now t n e m e c n e comm NS THE TRADITIO MORTARBOARD TASSELS There is no official color for bachelor’s degree tassels. Thus, Augsburg chose maroon and gray, and all undergraduate students wear this tassel. Tassels for graduate students are different. In 1895, the Intercollegiate Commission was established to standardize academic dress and to prescribe specific colors to represent different fields of study. This was the last time academic dress has been updated. Augsburg has six fields of post-baccalaureate study, each with a different color: business—drab; nursing—apricot; social work—citron; leadership—white; physician assistant studies—green; and education—light blue. Augsburg graduate program students and faculty all wear the colors of their fields. ‰ ‰ DOCTORAL DRESS The academic dress worn today has its roots in the 12th and 13th centuries when most scholars were clerics in monastic orders. Today’s doctoral robe is based on monastic robes; the hood, originally a cowl, was used to keep the head warm before indoor heating. Robes were formerly all black, but now institutions choose their own colors, and all official doctoral robes have three velvet stripes along the bell-shaped sleeves. Today, professors wear either an Oxford cap (the square mortarboard) or a Cambridge cap (the decorative, beretlike caps). This robe belongs to Nathan J. Hallanger, special assistant to the vice president of academic affairs. The four-foot doctoral hood is scarlet with blue trim, signifying a PhD from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley. ‰ DRUM In 1991, music professor Robert Stacke ’71, a professional drummer, began to lead the procession of graduates through Murphy Square to Melby Hall. In this now-beloved tradition, faculty line the street and congratulate their students as they walk by. In 19 years, Stacke has never missed Commencement and has only once dropped the drum. Summer 2010 7 THE TRADITIONS HONOR CORDS Though a variety of colored cords and stoles show up on students’ shoulders at Commencement, two cords are officially given by Augsburg to undergraduate students. Students who have earned a grade point average of 3.6 or higher are candidates for Latin honors, shown by their maroon and gray cords. All students who have completed the requirements of the Augsburg College Honors program wear gold cords. Other cords indicate that the student has completed a departmental honors project. THE CROSS In 1988, Professor Emeritus Norman Holen created the cross used in Chapel and carried in Augsburg ceremonies. ‰ ‰ ‰ ‰ 8 MACE The mace, like academic regalia, also originated in the Middle Ages. First used by medieval European bishops who were not allowed to carry swords into battle, the mace was useful as an armor-splitting weapon. By the 16th century, the mace was converted into a symbol of authority and was embraced by colleges and universities as a ceremonial icon. At Augsburg, the mace is carried into all official College ceremonies by the president of the Faculty Senate. Professor Emeritus Norman Holen created Augsburg’s mace in 1970, which, until 1988, was laid on a table during events. Holen was then commissioned to create a stand for it. MASTER’S HOODS Like tassels, the hoods given to master’s degree students have specific meaning. The main color of the 3.5-foot hoods is black, and they are lined with the colors of the college conferring the degree. The hood’s trimmings are three inches wide and correspond to the field of study. For example, the master’s hood shown here is given by Augsburg College (maroon and gray) in the field of nursing (apricot). commencement ‰ MAY 1, 2010 PRESIDENTIAL CHAIN OF OFFICE ‰ OTHER COLORS Augsburg College’s Chain of Office represents the president’s authority to head the university, and is worn by President Pribbenow at ceremonial functions such as Commencement. The chain is in fact not a chain but a maroon ribbon that suspends a medal imprinted with the College seal. The colorful stoles worn by African American students are made from a material called Kente cloth, which originates in Ghana, West Africa. The cloth was woven by the Asante people of Ghana and was exclusively made for Asante kings and queens. Now the stoles are given to members of the Pan-Afrikan Student Union (PASU) as a way to denote their fraternity and to connect them with their past. TEXT AND PHOTOS BY STEPHEN GEFFRE commencement JUNE 27, 2010 GRADUATES, FAMILIES, FACULTY, AND GUESTS CELEBRATE 2010 COMMENCEMENT MAY 1 COMMENCEMENT 416 undergraduate day students and physician assistant graduate students Speaker—Governor Tim Pawlenty Honorary degree—Father Fernando Cardenal, SJ, educator and activist, Nicaragua Marina Christensen Justice Award—Jessica Spanswick Jessica Spanswick graduated with a major in international relations and a minor in peace and global studies. She has been a Sabo Scholar in civic engagement, a Hoversten Peace Scholar, a Peace Prize Forum Peace Scholar, and a Lilly Scholar. Locally, she has worked with grass-roots organizations on environmental issues and has tutored Kenyan and Somali immigrants in a neighborhood program. Spanswick studied abroad in Namibia, and while there she worked on HIV/AIDS events and water rights issues. The Marina Christensen Justice Award honors a student who has demonstrated a dedication to community involvement as characterized by the personal and professional life of Marina Christensen Justice, who reached out to disadvantaged people and communities. JUNE 27 COMMENCEMENT 492 weekend/evening and Rochester undergraduate students, and graduate students in business, education, leadership, nursing, and social work Speaker—Congressman Keith Ellison Honorary degree—Peter Heegaard, founder of Urban Adventure Richard J. Thoni Award—Michele Roulet Michele Roulet graduated with a major in studio art and a minor in religion. In immersing herself in student life at Augsburg, Michele provided leadership, community spirit, hospitality, and innovation within the adult programs. She served as Weekend College Student Senate vice president and president and as a student commissioner in Campus Ministry. Her leadership created the First Word gatherings, an on-campus faith community for adult students. In the wider community, she has worked with programs to combat hunger. The Richard J. Thoni Award is given to a weekend student who exemplifies the spirit of community involvement demonstrated by Rick Thoni’s career at Augsburg. To view slide shows and a video of Governor Pawlenty’s commencement address, go to www.augsburg.edu and click on the YouTube icon. commencement IT’S ALL ABOUT FAMILY AT AUGSBURG Jeff and Suzi Burt and their daugher, Crystal Studer, graduated together, all receiving nursing degrees. Studer is a nurse at the hospital in Austin. “Augsburg’s been great,” she says. “It’s made me a more well-rounded nurse, and the faculty is phenomenal.” A little more than a year after Suzi and Crystal began, Jeff returned to the program. “Mayo is in the process of going bachelor’sonly for RNs,” Jeff says. “If you have an [associate’s degree in nursing], you'll be required to go back. I just thought it was the best thing to do.” All three say there are benefits to having family members in the program at the same time. Suzi and Crystal were frequently in the same class, and since they also live across the street from each other in Blooming Prairie, Minn., they were able to share textbooks. They have also encouraged and motivated each other as they worked to balance work, school, and family. “As a married couple, it’s nice to be in the same thing because you know what each other is going through,” Suzi says. While excited to finish, all three found the program both rewarding and beneficial. “It’s been better than I thought,” Crystal says. “In your first two years, you learn a lot of skills. In these two years [at Augsburg], you learn why we do what we do. The content has all been really useful, and it has inspired me.” JEFF AND SUZI BURT AND CRYSTAL STUDER CAROL DEMULLING, SARAH DEMULLING, AND HEATHER DEKOK Jeff Burt was the first member of his family to enroll in Augsburg’s nursing completion program. He was working at the Mayo Clinic when he began taking classes at Augsburg in 2000. He stopped about three-quarters of the way through the program to allow his wife, Suzi, to enroll in a two-year nursing program at Riverland Community College in Austin, Minn. In fall 2008, Suzi Burt and Crystal Studer, one of the couple’s daughters, enrolled at Augsburg, largely because of Jeff’s positive experience. Carol Demulling and her daughters Sarah Demulling and Heather Dekok all ended up in Augsburg’s business administration program for the same reason—they all knew the education they had wasn’t going to be enough. While all three have positions at Mayo Clinic and the two daughters have two-year degrees, they wanted more opportunities for advancement. “When I started work in the ’70s, you could have a high school education and work your way up,” Carol says. “To make moves Families have always been a big part of Augsburg—second- and third-generation Auggies, Auggies following the paths blazed by older siblings, and couples who met at Augsburg and inspired their children to attend. The June 27 Commencement, however, featured a new twist: two families of parents and children from Augsburg’s Rochester campus graduating together. The first is a mother, father, and daughter, all earning bachelor’s degrees in nursing. The second featured a mother and two daughters who studied business administration together. Carol Demulling (center) and her daughters Sarah Demulling (left) and Heather Dekok (right) graduated with business administration degrees. now, you need education.” Her daughter Heather was a little more blunt. “I graduated with a two-year degree in business in 2005,” she says. “And I realized that a two-year degree doesn’t do anything.” They all say their Augsburg education has been practical from the beginning. Dekok works in the international office at Mayo Clinic, and what she has learned about different cultures has been immediately applicable. “I work in an office full of women,” she says. “Some of the countries we deal with, they frown upon women in the workplace. You realize why you get some of the attitudes that you do at times.” Carol developed a complicated spreadsheet for a class project that is still being used by members of her office in the evaluation of grant proposals. As they finish at Augsburg, they’re happy to have experienced college together and appreciate the people they met through the process. “I didn’t really realize until the last two trimesters how many relationships we’ve built here,” Carol says. “People in the Mayo system, people at IBM. I’ve really enjoyed that and getting to know these people. We all have something in common.” JEFF SHELMAN Summer 2010 11 12 Augsburg Now step in the right direction A BY WENDI WHEELER ’06 Editor’s note—In order to be respectful of the students in the StepUP program, their last names are not used. StepUP students wear purple cords when they graduate from Augsburg. GOING TO COLLEGE was never a part of Emily A.’s future plans. She dropped out of high school and eventually got her GED. When she first heard about StepUP®, she was in her late twenties and living in a sober house in St. Paul. “I thought my time had passed,” Emily said. “College was one of the mountains I just wasn’t going to climb.” But she called Augsburg and made an appointment with Patrice Salmeri, StepUP program director. “All the time she was talking to me, I was saying, ‘Yeah, yeah. Sounds great,’ but I had no intention of applying.” Then she met Chris Belbeck ’06, an admissions counselor and a StepUP alumnus. “He asked me, ‘What are you waiting for?’ and he wasn’t taking no for an answer.” So before she left campus that day, she had started filling out an application. Four years later, Emily graduated with honors from Augsburg this spring. “I didn’t have any goals when I was using,” she says. “But StepUP has taught me that I have amazing drive and potential.” Without StepUP, Emily says she doubts she would have even tried going to college. Since 1997, the StepUP program has helped students in recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs learn similar lessons about themselves. To date, more than 400 students from across the nation have participated and have maintained an 85% abstinence rate while in the program. They are successful in sobriety and in the classroom, earning a collective 3.2 GPA at Augsburg. For many StepUP graduates, the thought of going to college was at one time unimaginable—never mind staying sober in school and getting good grades. But the StepUP community has given many students in recovery the opportunity to contribute to society in ways they never thought they would. (Photo at left) Emily A. ’10 and Tyler P. ’11 The community is the program Several colleges and universities sponsor 12-step meetings and provide academic support or counseling services for students in recovery. But StepUP goes further by offering chemical-free housing for students in what they refer to as a collegiate recovery community. “The community is a safe place where you feel supported,” says Scott Washburn, the program’s assistant director. The students guard and protect the safety of the community by holding each other accountable. While they are involved in StepUP, students meet individually with a StepUP counselor each week. They are required to attend two 12-step meetings per week and to maintain an active working relationship with a sponsor. Students also attend a weekly StepUP community meeting where they hear from outside speakers, discuss program business, share service opportunities, and celebrate even the smallest of victories. “Getting an A on a math test or just making it to the first day of class, those are chances for us to celebrate,” says Salmeri. “The little things really make a difference.” Achieving success—in sobriety, academically, and in the community—is part of the StepUP culture. “We build positive community norms that are geared toward succeeding, growing, and doing well,” Washburn says. “That’s why it’s different. That’s why it works.” The other component of StepUP that makes it stand out from traditional recovery programs is that the program is constantly shaped by student input. In particular, students serve on the leadership team, which meets regularly with staff to share what is happening in the community and to keep the program moving in the right direction. “The students really take initiative to make changes for the better in the community,” Salmeri says. This mature partnership, where staff and students work together, gives students the confidence to develop into leaders. Salmeri adds, “I can see the potential in them, and it is our role to help them realize it within themselves.” A perfect fit The idea for StepUP began when two students at Augsburg approached Don Warren, the former director of Augsburg’s Summer 2010 13 Center for Learning and Adaptive Student Services (CLASS), to ask for his help. The students shared with Warren how being in college was difficult for them. They struggled not only with the usual day-to-day challenges of college life but also with staying clean and sober. Warren turned to Dave Hadden, then the educational and vocational liaison at Hazelden, for his help. Washburn, who worked with Hadden at that time, said Hadden had developed an educational and vocational packet for patients coming out of treatment “to get them thinking about their direction in life,” Washburn says, but they didn’t have a college to recommend. In fact, Washburn says, “We would discourage young people from going to college straight out of treatment. We told them they needed a year of sobriety first and a really solid foundation.” Warren and Hadden’s idea for a residential program that would offer counseling and support proved to be just the foundation students needed to transition from treatment to college. In the fall of 1997, 23 students moved into Anderson Hall to begin college and the StepUP program. Thirteen years later, the program serves 72 students who live in Oren Gateway Center, a chemical-free facility that is also home to the StepUP staff offices. Washburn believes the StepUP program and its students have flourished at Augsburg due in part to the values shared by the program and the College. “Augsburg’s culture is about providing access and helping all kinds of students get the support they need to be successful,” he says. “That’s perfect for students like ours.” Also, as a private liberal arts college of the ELCA, Washburn says the Augsburg community is open to conversations about spirituality. In 12-step programs, students learn to rely on a higher power or a God of their understanding. “We work really hard with students to help them define their meaning and purpose …” Washburn adds. 14 Augsburg Now Students receive a medallion when they complete the StepUP program. Part of that purpose is being of service to others, another value in line with Augsburg’s mission. “We help students find a vision and see that no matter what they do, they can make a difference in the world,” Washburn says. Making a difference means being of service to the community—not just the StepUP community or the recovery community but at Augsburg, in the city, and throughout the world. Success through service Being a part of the StepUP community helps students maintain sobriety because it gives them a chance to help others. Being “of service” is an essential component of any 12-step recovery program, whether it is by sponsoring others, sharing in meetings, or even making coffee. Tyler P. has learned that success in college can come through helping others, not just from studying. After he faced serious consequences from his drug use, Tyler entered treatment at Hazelden. One of his friends from treatment, the only one he knew who had stayed sober, was in StepUP. Tyler saw that the young man was a good student and that he wasn’t getting high or drunk. For Tyler, that kind of life was hard to imagine. He enrolled at Augsburg in 2008 and now participates in the StepUP community, sharing his experience with other men as a sponsor. “I’ve earned more As through being of service to others than when I white-knuckled it for eight hours cramming for a test,” he says. In recovery, Tyler has seen students transform their lives. “I’ve seen guys go from not being able to sweep the floor when they first get sober to being able to run meetings, get on the dean’s list, and participate in life.” And Tyler’s life has also been transformed. “I was not an all-star student in high school, but I’ve found a lot of success here.” He’s been on the dean’s list for three semesters and has developed a network of sober friends. Most importantly, Tyler says being a part of the community has given him the chance to practice the principles he’s learned in his recovery program. A new way of living Salmeri says StepUP also helps students learn that they are leaders and role models, not only for other students in recovery but for all members of the Augsburg community. Students can serve in formal leadership positions in StepUP, in student government, as a member of residence life, or by participating in athletics. But many also become role models to their peers simply by becoming the people they were meant to be. When Julia G. first learned about the StepUP program, she had only been sober for a few weeks. As time passed and she neared the six-month mark of her sobriety, the minimum requirement for acceptance into StepUP, Julia realized that going back to college was possible for her. While in the program, students in StepUP are required to live on campus. This meant that Julia, who had been living in a sober house where she was the youngest resident, would now be the oldest woman in her residence hall. For the first month, Julia says she felt out of place because of the age difference. “I thought I was unique because I had more life experience,” she says. “I judged the other girls.” Eventually Julia began to realize she was more like the other students than she had thought. “We all had different experiences, but we also had something very important in common.” That sense of belonging helped Julia form “intense, involved relationships” with the other students. “For the first time in my life, I was a trustworthy person. It meant a lot to me that the other women looked up to me.” Today Julia has a degree, a career she calls “fantastic,” and a relationship with her nine-year-old son. And she’s stayed sober for seven years. “I really turned into myself at Augsburg,” Julia says. “StepUP showed me that anything is possible.” Moving in the right direction Over the years, StepUP has provided a safe, supportive community for hundreds of students. The program has allowed them to achieve the goal of college graduation while also staying clean and sober—a goal that was at one time overshadowed by their addiction. And the confidence students gain in StepUP keeps them going in the right direction after they move on from Augsburg. Witnessing this achievement is a great joy for Salmeri and the other StepUP staff. “The privilege of my position as director is to witness the growth of each student as they experience the transition into mature adults,” she says. For 10 years, Salmeri says her dream job was to work for Augsburg in the StepUP program. “After eight years of working here, I can still say it is my dream job. I feel honored and humbled to work with the students and their families.” “I am your biggest fan” Every year the StepUP program celebrates the accomplishments of its graduates— those who have completed their studies at Augsburg as well as those who have completed their residency with StepUP and will move off campus. The StepUP graduation ceremony is a special time set aside to recognize the outstanding achievements of the StepUP students and for the Augsburg community to hear their inspirational stories. The theme, chosen by the students on the StepUP leadership council, was “I am your biggest fan.” These are sentiments shared by Patrice Salmeri, StepUP program director, at this year’s ceremony: “… let this statement sink deep into your soul. Write it on a rock. Etch it on a tree. I am your biggest fan. I am rooting for you all the way. And it has been this way since your first contact with the StepUP program. Through the ups and downs, the difficulties and celebrations, life’s twists and turns—I am your biggest fan! Your legacy here at Augsburg and the StepUP program has already been left, and it is more than enough! Whether it was a kind word you said or being a consistent friend in another’s life, you may never know. But each of you has left their mark on this place and it is forever changed because of your presence.” A tradition at the StepUP graduation is for a student to read from “The Awakening,” an anonymous poem about recovery. This is an excerpt from the poem: You learn that, for the most part, in life you get what you believe you deserve … and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy. You learn that anything worth achieving is worth working for and that wishing for something to happen is different from working toward making it happen. More importantly, you learn that in order to achieve success you need direction, discipline, and perseverance. You also learn that no one can do it all alone and that it’s OK to risk asking for help. Summer 2010 15 1 10 So try to jog your memory bank and answer this question: Just when was the last time you were on the Augsburg campus? And we’re talking about really being on campus. You know, park the car, get out, walk around, go into a building. Because giving a little wave when you see the sign atop Mort as you cruise down Interstate 94 doesn’t count. Has it been a year? Two? Five? That’s all right. We’re not going to judge. Everybody is busy, you don’t always get to Cedar-Riverside, we get that. But we also know that sometimes you just need a little inspiration. And that’s why you need to keep reading. Because while you only need one reason to come back to campus and remember the role that Augsburg played in shaping your life, we’re going to give you 10. So stop by, check the place out, see how much it has changed. And be an Auggie. 10 reasons to come back to campus BY JEFF SHELMAN 16 Augsburg Now 1 0 OREN GATEWAY CENTER If it has truly been a while since you’ve been on campus, well, this is Augsburg’s new front door. Located on Riverside Avenue, the Oren Gateway Center is the newest building on campus. The multipurpose building has classrooms, residences, offices, meeting rooms, and common spaces. And if you want to learn about alumni programming, our Alumni and Constituent Relations folks are located on the third floor. . 2 Campus model Yes, we know the Augsburg campus has a new look to it. But it isn’t a finished product either. In the lobby of Oren Gateway Center is a model that depicts what Augsburg’s campus master plan looks like. You can see where the planned Center for Science, Business, and Religion will go. Once that is built, Augsburg’s urban campus will have green space from 20th Avenue to Kennedy Center. 3 GET SOME GEAR Let’s be honest, that Augsburg sweatshirt in your closet is looking pretty grungy, isn’t it? We can fix that. The Augsburg bookstore in Oren Gateway Center has many ways for you to show off some Auggie pride. A hat for the golf course? Check. A sweatshirt for fall weekends? Yep. Cool workout gear for the gym? We’ve got that too. Gear Summer 2010 17 4 EAT The food available on campus is no longer how you remember it. It isn’t mass produced and boring. It actually has, you know, flavor. The folks at Nabo, in Oren, will make a fresh sandwich or salad right before your eyes. There’s also homemade soup and even sushi. At the A-Club Grille in the lower level of Christensen Center, the options range from burgers to chicken sandwiches to wings, and fresh fries are an option. Our choice? We love Nabo’s Buffalo Chicken Sandwich (left). You’ll just need a few extra napkins. 5 VELKOMMEN JUL On the topic of eating, who doesn’t need some sweets as you head into Advent? Stop by campus on Friday, Dec. 3, and take part in the Augsburg tradition that honors our Scandinavian heritage. And if anybody can make treats the way your mother and grandmother did, it is the Augsburg Associates, a group of volunteers who support the College. 6 Athletic events For each of the past two years, Augsburg has been the most improved athletic program in the MIAC, and teams are making the playoffs with much greater frequency than ever before. Why not load up the family and watch some of our student-athletes show their Auggie pride? Our defending national champion wrestling team takes on rival Wartburg in the Battle of the ’Burgs on January 18, 2011. There’s a home football game each Saturday in September. Other schedules can be found at www.augsburg.edu/athletics. 18 Augsburg Now 8 7 Christensen Center We know how you work. You have a meeting somewhere in Minneapolis, it ends, and you proceed directly to Starbucks or Caribou. Right? If you’re near campus, why don’t you stop by Christensen Center? It’s a little different than last time you were here. Cooper’s will brew you up some good java and you can get a wi-fi password at the info desk. And you might meet some current Auggies. Art on campus There’s the Gage Family Art Gallery in Oren Gateway Center. There’s the Christensen Center Art Gallery. And there’s also a student gallery on the main level of Christensen. Stop by, see some of the cool stuff from local and Augsburg artists in the galleries and across campus. Exhibit information can be found at www.augsburg.edu/galleries. 9 DAILY CHAPEL There are days when you just need a little reflection, a reminder of what is really important. At Augsburg, there is time set aside to do just that. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 10:20 a.m. and on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11:20 a.m., a 20-minute chapel service is held during the academic year. While daily chapel is considered a given by Auggies, it is very much a rarity for liberal arts colleges. Stop by and take a break from your busy day. 10 Homecoming If you are only going to make one trip to Augsburg in the next year, make it for Homecoming weekend, Oct. 15-16. Among the highlights is the expanded Taste of Augsburg prior to the football game against Concordia Moorhead. After the game with the Cobbers, stick around for the Auggie Block Party and see old friends and classmates. Summer 2010 19 E H T M O R F LEARNING t n e m n o r i v n E BY WENDI WHEELER ’06 College students who take a literature course expect to do a lot of reading. But few who register for a course titled “Environmental Literature” would imagine being asked to go camping, wear the same clothing for a week, or borrow someone’s book and not return it. A student wouldn’t expect this—unless he or she had taken a course from Colin Irvine, associate professor of English and environmental studies. In order to encourage his students to experience the literal and literary landscape more deeply, students in Irvine’s spring semester course found themselves taking on some creative challenges. In addition to reading books and taking exams, students were asked to observe a spot in nature and note its changes over time, learn to identify Minnesota’s birds, wear the same outfit for one week, spend 24 hours in the great outdoors, and go “off the grid” for an entire weekend. The point of these unusual assignments was to challenge students to move outside of their comfort zones. “I wanted, as Thoreau suggested at the outset of Walden, to wake them up to help them see their world—not the distant world connected with wilderness but the one they inhabit daily—as being connected to a dynamic, ultimately dangerous living, evolving world. I wanted them, in short, to feel challenged, unsettled, unsafe,” Irvine says. “It’s a risk when you put these kind of things in the syllabus, but I got away with it.” On the following pages, students share some of their blog and journal entries about Irvine’s challenges. “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.” HENRY DAVID THOREAU, WALDEN 20 Augsburg Now BECOME A BUDDING phenologist (pun intended) Select a plot of land and visit two to three times a week. Spend time in your place observing, recording, and reflecting on what you find, hear, note, and think. SPRING IN THE CITY It seems as if my professor was right in his recommendation to visit our sites twice a week. If I had followed his advice, perhaps I would be able to better appreciate my hillside. Where I stand right now, I am unsure as to how much has changed and how drastically so. The snow is slowly receding into an indistinguishable brown mass of diamond dirt. Wildlife can be heard through the dripping trees as well; the chattering squirrels, the squawking crows, the cooing mourning doves. Something that strikes me as I stand here is the indescribable sense of movement I feel from my site. The water from the once frozen crack in the concrete dam is now a dull trickle on the hill. In the right moment, a flash of sun bounces off of the stream and hits my eye. This sharp glint always jars me awake from my hypnotized state; I feel a bit silly admitting this, but I often lose myself in the sight of the hillside. It’s as if all of the attempts of description are fruitless as my words hold no candle to the majestic power of nature. The subtle movement of the water almost gives the land a pulse. With each trickle of the stream, the surrounding leaves shift and rearrange. The grass sways above the mud’s restless state and the flow of the dirty water draws me in; it’s almost as if the pulse of the hillside is acting as a siren. The movement in the grounds suggests a voice; a voice that beckons me to join with the land. To see my plot of land move, so see it breathe, this is an experience I have never had before. DAVE MADSEN ’11 THISONE’SFOR the birds Learn to identify the birds of Minnesota by their physical characteristics and by their calls. MARCH 1, 2010 I’m so pleased that now I know what a cardinal sounds like—a great mystery of my life, solved! There are three of them—two males and a huge female—that frequent my mulberry bushes and the neighbor’s tree, but somehow I’ve never made the connection before that they’re the ones whose song I wake up early to on work days. I’ve been late more than once on my way to the coffee shop; I can’t help but pause and watch them hop and flutter from branch to branch, circling each other in some birdish dance that I suspect is carefully organized, though I can’t tell what they’re doing. The downside of my new bird watching discovery is that I can’t whistle. When my dad would take me hiking as a little kid, I was constantly fascinated by his ability not only to identify birds by their calls but also to repeat them, and I’ve tried my whole life but never learned how to do the same. When I was five, I remember writing a list of things I had to learn how to do: zip zippers, cartwheel, snap my fingers, raise one eyebrow, tie my own shoes, and whistle. The cartwheel and the whistle have never been checked off. DALEY KONCHAR FARR ’13 Summer 2010 21 GOINGOFF the grid Go off the grid for three days—a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Though there are many reasons tied to this course that I am presenting you with this challenge, here are four of the most important: first, when we are plugged in, we are often tuned out to the natural sights and sounds specific and central to this course’s focus on landscape; second, when we are off the grid, we are more inclined to sync with those around us, an important consideration given the emphasis in this course on communities; third, unplugging means consuming less and thus preserving/conserving more; fourth (though not finally), much of today’s communications-based technology reinforces the idea that having instant access to information in small bits represents progress. Jessica was determined to go off the grid one weekend, but she was waiting for important news from her family. She received the call and then checked her e-mail to find a message from her graduate school program, which required her to log on and register for classes. She didn’t make it entirely off the grid—she didn’t call anyone and checked e-mail only twice a day. She wrote, “But I know, deep down, that this doesn’t count.” GOING OFF THE GRID: MISSION IMPOSSIBLE (EXCERPT) I have become entirely trapped in our mechanized society. The demands placed on me are not the be-all and end-all of the world, but it is easy to define them as such. This being said, I do not completely resent the technology I have allowed to enter my life. My family has always been very close, and even now, as a senior in college, my parents call me at least three times a week to check in. I do not resent their phone calls, but I relish the contact I have with my family, it helps me feel connected to them. In the same way, some close friends that do not go to school here talk to me via various types of communication. It helps to keep us together when we cannot be physically together. I think there is a danger in setting aside the people we are physically present with for those who are distances away, but there is also a danger in shunning people we could be communicating with for those that are closer. I don’t think technology is evil; it, like everything else, can be used poorly and abused. The key is to use it wisely. I would like to try to go off-grid some other time, because there is no way to understand how to truly utilize technology if we don’t know what life is like without it. JESSICA FANASELLE ’10 “Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountain is going home; that wildness is necessity; that mountain parks and reservations are useful not only as fountains of timber and irrigating rivers, but as fountains of life.” JOHN MUIR 22 Augsburg Now Bear Grylls HASGOT NOTHINGONYOU By the end of spring break, spend 24 uninterrupted hours in Minnesota’s great outdoors. 3/21 IT’S FREEZING!! We didn’t anticipate these temperatures. The night dragged on, freezing temperatures resulted in tossing and turning and shivering all night. I think we all learned a valuable lesson—it’s impossible to share a mummy bag. 24 hours later and the land seems unchanged except for the layer of frost that confirmed the freeze. It seemed like time froze along with the water in the bottle outside of the tent (note: always take the time to tuck the water bottle UNDER the tarp INSIDE the tent). It was hard to fully appreciate the hours without sun. No sleep, the shivers, numb toes, sounds like initiation criteria. It’s amazing how a few hours of pain and uncomfortable conditions can change how you feel about the outdoors, I’d been winter camping twice before but this was definitely more of a challenge. We may have underestimated the amount of preparation and anticipation that was needed but by morning it didn’t matter. MATIE MINASIE ’11 CAN I BORROW your book? Borrow Daniel Quinn’s Ishmael: An Adventure of the Mind and Spirit from someone—perhaps a stranger—and then convince that person to let you give the book away to someone else. I USED TO BELIEVE I used to believe, before coming to Augsburg, that ‘try’ was a useless word. I used to believe that if something couldn’t be accomplished fully, successfully, it wasn’t worth much. I used to believe that everything I did meant only what value could be found in final products. I think my journey away from this belief has taken place slowly over the last four years but it seems perfect and fitting to me that this Environmental Literature class, with its challenges, has come at the end of my Augsburg education. The challenges of this curriculum represent everything I was wrong about before coming here. Education, growth, things of beauty and worth are rarely born from end products. Trying to spend 24 hours outside, trying to spend a week not planning outfits each morning, trying to memorize Minnesota birds, trying to find a copy of Ishmael that someone would let me borrow then give away, trying to spend hours writing outdoors in the bitterness of February, these attempts taught me more about myself and the world around me than easily succeeding ever could have. Some of the challenges I completed, some I completed creatively, and some I failed but I don’t feel that any taught me less than another. Find all the Environmental Literature challenges at www.augsburg.edu/now One of the best examples of all this, I think, was the challenge to find a copy of Ishmael to borrow and give away. In my search, I learned who around me had read the book and wanted to talk about it when I’d finished (though none from that group still had the copy they’d read), who wanted to borrow it from me when I was done, and what it would mean for me to give up a book that had no intention of coming back to me in physical form. Now I understand, in a way I didn’t before, that a conversation with my father (who will receive Ishmael from me) about the book is worth more that the book’s long life on my shelf. When I couldn’t find a copy of Ishmael from anyone I knew, I ended up making a trade for the book at a used bookstore in St. Paul. “Ishmael?” the girl behind the counter said as she handed it over, “this book will change your life.” Having finished reading it, I know she was right but that she may not have understood entirely what she was saying. The book has changed my life, to be sure, but the journey to find it and the conversations that will come are life-changing things as well. We do not grow through successes, final products, and exams but through journeys, challenges, and trying things once, twice, or fifty times without fear of the result. MOLLY BUDKE ’10 Summer 2010 23 MARK MATZEK It was spring 2007 and Mark Matzek ’05 couldn’t sleep. He was 25 years old, had just finished his first full year of teaching mathematics at Apple Valley High School, and suddenly was faced with a significant life decision. Ever since deciding to become a high school teacher, Matzek’s goal was to return to his hometown of Ellsworth, Wis., coach his nephews on the wrestling mat, and teach math to his nieces. With only two coaches over the past 60 years, Ellsworth had become a wrestling power in Wisconsin, and continuing that interested Matzek. But Matzek was also an Auggie. The three-time All-American and two-time national champion had spent two years as a part-time assistant coach at his alma mater. So, three years ago Matzek had to make a choice. A math position opened in Ellsworth and plans would be made to make him the coach-in-waiting. At the same time, Jeff Swenson retired as Augsburg’s wrestling coach, the assistant coach was promoted, and Matzek was offered the full-time assistant coach position. “I kept waking up thinking Augsburg was the right choice,” Matzek says. Turns out it was. BACK ON TOP AT NO. 1 Fast forward three years and Matzek doesn’t have some of the worries that many 28-year-olds have. He doesn’t worry about whether that promotion is really going to happen. He doesn’t fret about that next job. And he isn’t in that wondering-what-is-next mode that seems to go along with that time of one’s life. 24 Augsburg Now Nine years on the mats BY JEFF SHELMAN Fresh off a Colorado vacation filled with mountain climbing, Matzek couldn’t be more comfortable with where he is. And for good reason. Sitting in his Kennedy Center office, Matzek has two pieces of serious hardware within arm’s reach. The first is for the NCAA Division III wrestling national championship that Augsburg won in March. The second is for Matzek being named Division III Coach of the Year. “There is no ‘what’s next’,” says Matzek, the youngest coach to ever win a Division III title. “This is where I want to be. It’s Augsburg. This is the premier small wrestling school in America. This is a dream job.” And this winter, the Augsburg wrestling program truly became Matzek’s program. With former coach/program architect/athletic director Jeff Swenson ’79 simply a spectator, Matzek led the Auggies to one of its most successful seasons in school history. The Auggies simply didn’t lose. A team with great balance, Augsburg was perfect in dual meets; it won every tournament it entered and the Auggies closed the season by winning their 11th national championship in the past 20 years. It was a season that included dual meet victories over the teams that finished both first and second in the Division II championship and a drama-free Division III national championship in which Augsburg clinched the title before the championship matches began. While there were certainly questions about whether Matzek would be able to keep the Augsburg wrestling program at the same level—the fact that he looks both younger than his age and younger than some of his wrestlers didn’t help—there is little question now. “I couldn’t be happier for Mark; they got the monkey off their back,” Swenson says. “You win one and then you don’t have to answer the question any longer. And I couldn’t be happier that I had nothing to do with it.” Matzek says he didn’t feel pressure to win that first title, but he also knows that there were people nationally who expected a misstep. “If Augsburg was ever going to falter, it was going to be the last two years,” he says. “And we finished second and first.” BUMPS ALONG THE WAY It was a little more than two years ago when Swenson walked into Matzek’s office and asked him to serve as the program’s interim coach. It was the end of July, the school year was less than six weeks from starting and Matzek was handed the keys. “Was I prepared as well as others in the nation? No,” Matzek says. “But I didn’t want it to go outside the Augsburg family. I didn’t really know what I had agreed to until I went home and told my wife.” The next eight months were a blur for Matzek, who at times was just trying to stay a step ahead of his wrestlers and make it to the next day. Because in addition to leading the Auggies, he was also part of the way through a graduate program at Concordia-St. Paul, a program that was much more manageable when he was an assistant coach. “I had three full-time jobs,” he joked. “I had Augsburg, I had my master’s program, and I had my wife. Our guys would study and I’d be there working on my homework at the same time.” Summer 2010 25 MARK MATZEK AT AUGSBURG 2001-05: Student-athlete Two individual national championships Three-time All-American The team won two national titles and had two runner-up finishes. 2005-2008: Assistant coach Augsburg won the 2007 national championship and finished third in both 2006 and 2008. 2008-09: Interim head coach Team rose to No. 1 in the national rankings and won the National Duals. 2009-10: Permanent head coach The Auggies completed a perfect season, winning every dual meet and tournament. Augsburg won its 11th Division III national championship in the past 20 years. Matzek was named Division III Coach of the Year. The Auggies finished second at the NCAA championships. While athletics may not be as cutthroat at the Division III level as it is, say, in the Big Ten, contests are still scored and it isn’t intramurals. “I didn’t want to just hold on and be a bridge from one coach to another,” Matzek says. “I wanted to win the title for those guys. It was a year of extreme highs and extreme lows for me. I was learning to manage all of the different guys, manage personalities and figure out that not all athletes were like me when I was in college.” Matzek was certainly more than just the guy to get Augsburg by. The Auggies defeated rival Wartburg, won the Division III National Duals, and entered the NCAA Championships ranked No. 1 in the country. “I knew we didn’t have as good of a tournament team as we did a dual meet team,” Matzek says. “We had a couple of injuries, and we had a couple of matches that didn’t go our way. After the first day I knew it was going to be tough.” The Auggies finished second, but Matzek did enough to ensure his future as Augsburg’s head coach. While the search 26 Augsburg Now committee did bring in two outside candidates to interview for the position, Matzek was hired. “Given the circumstances, he did a great job,” Swenson says. “We were a lowly-ranked team and he took us to the No. 1 ranking and a second-place finish. There was a real strong assumption with the committee that he had done a good enough job.” IN THE RIGHT PLACE NOW While Matzek has been a head coach for only two seasons—and only one season in which he knew the job was really his—he has impressed the guy who is both his boss and the architect of the Augsburg program. “I think Mark has become a quick expert at preparing his teams for competition,” Swenson says. “I think he gets it. I believe he has taken the Augsburg system and tweaked it to have Mark Matzek’s name on it. He’s done it by having a keen sense of what athletes need. “He’s a lot closer in age to his wrestlers. He knows how it feels to go through this. He’s really in tune to when the guys need to be pushed, need a day off, need rest.” Like anyone in a new job, the second year was easier for Matzek than the first. He had a better understanding of what the job entailed, there were fewer surprises, and he could learn from both high points and challenges of his first year. And when the Auggies reached the NCAA Championships, Matzek knew the work had been done. “I don’t want to sound cocky or arrogant, but we expected [the national championship], we expected to win it,” he says. “It wasn’t a real surprise.” While Swenson was happy for Matzek, Matzek was happy for his boss. “It was big for Augsburg wrestling to win it without Jeff in the wrestling room, it was a big relief for him and the search committee,” Matzek says. “They took a chance and it worked out.” And, as a result, Matzek is exactly where he wants to be. m c Making Connections making connections In theatre, as in life, finding success is often about who you know. But knowing the right people isn’t enough. In order to build the foundation for a thriving career in theatre, students need to form and maintain connections with the people and the places that make up the “theatre scene.” Perhaps this is one of the most important lessons that Augsburg theatre students learn. Through participation in AugSem, the Artist Series, internships, and by attending some of the hundreds of productions staged throughout the Twin Cities every year, stu- dents are challenged to go away from Augsburg, and sometimes outside of their comfort zones, in order to make connections in the BY WENDI WHEELER ’06 theatre community. Summer 2010 27 CONNECTING TO THE CITY From the beginning of her Augsburg education, Tessa Flynn ’05 says she was encouraged to get involved in the city. A theatre arts and mass communication major, she was particularly interested in the role of theatre in the public school system. She was fortunate to land an internship with the Children’s Theatre Company following her sophomore year, an opportunity that served as her introduction to critical literacy in the classroom. The Children’s Theatre’s Neighborhood Bridges program was started in 1997 by Jack Zipes, fairy tale scholar, and the Children’s Theatre Company artistic director, Peter Brosius. Using a variety of mediums such as theatre arts, storytelling, and creative writing, students work through issues in their lives and develop critical thinking and communication skills. “It’s like a little poison, this whole critical literacy thing,” Flynn says. “It gets in your system, and your teaching is forever changed.” Before Flynn’s last year of school, sociology professor Garry Hesser encouraged her to get involved with the Project for Pride in Living college house in the Phillips neighborhood. She lived there with other college students and tutored middle school students from the community. “I saw that my students needed to break a cycle of violence and poverty, and I became even more convinced that theatre could be an important part of that process,” Flynn says. “Being in the city, you get to have the Guthrie and so many other theatres as an extension of the classroom.” KATIE KOCH ’01/’05 Now Flynn is the community engagement manager and a teaching artist with the Bridges program at Children’s Theatre. She works with students in grades 3–8 and has 22 classrooms where she spends two hours a week. Flynn says the Bridges program engages multiple learning styles and allows students to recognize their individual skills. “When I see students shine in Bridges, who in other areas of the school day are thought of as low-achieving or who hide in the shadows, I am convinced that this is important work.” Flynn says she is grateful for the opportunities she had at Augsburg. “I don’t know if I would be where I am now if not for the encouragement of faculty to get involved in the city.” 28 Augsburg Now Katie Koch ’01/’05 also made many connections in the city that led her on a circuitous path—from campus to downtown Minneapolis to New York and back to Augsburg with a few more stops in between. Koch started out as a music major, but when her high school drama teacher took a position as stage manager at Hey City Theatre, longtime home of Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding, Koch was given an opportunity to assist him. She worked as the assistant stage Katie Koch ’01/’05 manager and as an actor in Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding at Hey City for three years while she was in school. “I would be in Augsburg Choir with my hair in pin curls,” Koch said, “because I literally had to go straight from rehearsal to the theater.” She says it was the advice of Sonja Thompson, a piano instructor and vocal coach at Augsburg, that finally convinced her she could leave the music department. “She said, ‘You’re doing all this work in theatre … you don’t have to be a music major,’” Koch says. Instead of declaring a new major, Koch left school to stage manage the next show at Hey City, Smokey Joe’s Cafe. She then became an assistant stage manager for the Minnesota Opera, went on to work with Glimmerglass Opera in Cooperstown, N.Y., and freelanced as a stage manager from Milwaukee to Miami. Eventually she came back to Augsburg and completed a degree in theatre. Koch, who was by then a theatre veteran, found herself in the classroom with younger students. “It was interesting to be tossed in with a group of young, eager students,” she says. But she formed relationships with students and even became a mentor to some. “It was exciting to watch such a talented group of artists learn and get ready to begin their careers.” After school, Koch worked at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts until a friend encouraged her to respond to a posting for the assistant to the director of the Guthrie. She went through several interviews including a very brief interview with Joe Dowling who, she says, asked her mostly about the professionals she’d worked with in her career. “I guess he’d already made the decision to hire me,” she says. She’s worked with Dowling now for three years. Koch maintains connections to Augsburg, sometimes serv- “I knew my experience at Augsburg wouldn’t end after graduation.” LEE FISHER ’06 Summer 2010 29 Justin Hooper ’07 (left) and Michael Kelley ’05 ing as a guest lecturer and hosting Augsburg student groups who visit the Guthrie. “A huge advantage for Augsburg and the theatre department is the city,” Koch says. “Being in the city, you get to have the Guthrie and so many other theaters as an extension of the classroom.” She adds that anytime she gets a chance to talk to Augsburg students, she tells them to take advantage of the opportunities to see high-quality performances in the city. “I say you need to sit in the seats and watch … this is your practicum.” GOING BEHIND THE SCENES Each year many aspiring actors come to Augsburg hoping to make a name for themselves onstage. And while many do just that, they also sometimes discover and develop their calling to work behind the scenes by getting involved backstage. This was the case for Lee Fisher ’06, Michael Kelley ’05, and Justin Hooper ’07. All three were very talented actors who performed in a variety of roles while at Augsburg, but each one also learned a lot about his craft while working on the technical side of shows. Fisher, who has taught English and directed the theatre program for five years at Robbinsdale Armstrong High School in Plymouth, says that being a stage manager was an important part of his education. “When I was behind the scenes, it wasn’t 30 Augsburg Now about me. As an educator that has been very helpful,” he says. “Success happens when the focus is on what the students need and how I can help them.” Today he directs two major productions a year and frequently draws on his connections with Augsburg theatre faculty for advice about organizing shows. He’s sought out professors Michael Burden ’85, Martha Johnson, and Darcey Engen ’88 for help on developing a curriculum and organizing a show, and he says he wouldn’t be able to do what he’s done without their help. Fisher also stays in touch with education and English faculty who were instrumental in his education because he values the professional connections. “I knew my experience at Augsburg wouldn’t end after graduation,” Fisher says. He adds that his Augsburg professors continue to be sources of guidance and friendship. “That commitment to bringing in outside artists puts Augsburg one step higher than other college programs.” JUSTIN HOOPER ’07 Kelley and Hooper also had eye-opening experiences working backstage at Augsburg. Kelley says he came to college wanting to be a professional actor but became interested in other career possibilities after working in Augsburg’s scene shop for four years. And Hooper says his experience was all-encompassing because he worked on- and offstage. “There was always a lot of good discussion,” he adds, noting that theatre majors tended to spend a lot of time together and to continue their classroom discussions outside of class. “You see that everything in theatre is so connected.” Hooper is grateful for the opportunities he had to work with and get to know guest artists while he was a student. “In theatre, it’s all about who you know,” Hooper says. In addition to meeting professionals through faculty connections, he and all theatre students work with actors, directors, and designers from the community on Augsburg productions. “That commitment to bringing in outside artists puts Augsburg one step higher than other college programs.” The connections they made while studying theatre at Augsburg have contributed to their busy and sometimes complicated professional careers. Since graduation, they have acted in and directed shows, painted and designed sets, and written original and adapted works. They’ve been from Winona, Minn., to Acadia, Maine, and back. And now, in addition to maintaining their day jobs, the two are putting their blood, sweat, and tears into managing 3AM Productions, a small local theatre company. At 3AM, Kelley says they draw on their connections with other artists in the community to create unique and multidimensional productions. “We want every show to be something people aren’t used to seeing,” he says. He adds that they strive to provide a well-rounded “big theatre” experience to the patrons who are supporting their small theatre. “I think it’s what we do well.” During and after college, Steen worked in the box office at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts. An actor friend there suggested she become a dramaturg, and eventually she went to Columbia to pursue an MFA. “When students see other actors on the great stages of this city, they can read their bios and see their training, and that helps them see how to get from Augsburg’s stage to another.” CARLA STEEN ’91 Because she had very little experience in the “creative side” of theatre, Steen says her MFA was an immersion experience. “I said, ‘Oh, so this is how all this works.’” Today Steen says it is interesting to come back to Augsburg because as a student she wasn’t really involved with the theatre department. She has taught and been a guest lecturer at the College, and she tries to see at least one production a year. Steen says theatre students in the Twin Cities are fortunate because of the opportunities to meet and see high-quality actors, directors, and artists. “When students see other actors on the great FINDING YOUR STAGE It takes more than theatre majors and faculty and staff to stage a production. Often many non-majors get involved in theatre in college but don’t end up in “the business” until later in life. Carla Steen ’91 is one student whose path to professional theatre went through the English and history departments at Augsburg. As a first-year student, she ran the light board for Julie Bolton’s production of Macbeth—with a set designed by Burden (then a graduate student at the University of Minnesota) and starring Engen as Lady Macbeth. But that was the end of her participation in theatre at Augsburg as a student. Instead, Steen, who has worked at the Guthrie for 12 years as a dramaturg and publications manager, studied literary criticism with English professor Doug Green and worked on a senior honors project under his direction. She also researched Shakespearean history and sources for her history senior seminar taught by Richard Nelson, now professor emeritus. “In many ways, that was the beginning of me thinking that research for theatre was an interesting thing I could do,” Steen says. Carla Steen ’91 Summer 2010 31 “We hire people because they are active and are creating their own work, not waiting for someone … And they also have some other passions that aren’t about theatre.” JENNI LILLEDAHL ’87 Jenni Lilledahl ’87 stages of this city, they can read their bios and see their training, and that helps them see how to get from Augsburg’s stage to another.” Another student who played a minor role at Augsburg and went on to a thriving career in theatre is Jenni Lilledahl ’87. As a student, Lilledahl took courses with Ailene Cole, now professor emerita. “She seemed like she lived and breathed theatre and was completely consumed with passion for the forum,” Lilledahl says. “She influenced me as an artist, and I always admired her from a distance.” Though Lilledahl took courses to obtain a minor in theatre, she felt the need to study in a more lucrative field. “I remember hearing voices saying, ‘You have to pay the bills and have a reliable income.’” Lilledahl majored in communication and public relations. After graduating and working in corporate public relations, she decided to try the “comedy thing,” so she started taking improvisation classes and met her future husband, John Sweeney. Eventually she jumped off the corporate ladder so that she and Sweeney could pursue their dreams, and the couple moved to Chicago 32 Augsburg Now and worked at The Second City. Then in 1997, along with Mark Bergren, the couple bought the Brave New Workshop from its founder, Dudley Riggs. “John and I had three or so years of experience in theatre but had a lot more business experience,” Lilledahl says. “I guess we were sort of the oddballs of the theatre community, but Dudley appreciated that we could manage the business as well as the artistic side.” As the current co-owner of Brave New Workshop and executive director of the Brave New Institute, Lilledahl oversees the theatre’s school, which reaches more than 150 students a week, and she conducts improvisation workshops around the country. She is also on the board for Gilda’s Club Twin Cities, an organization that provides emotional and social support for families impacted by cancer. Lilledahl returns to Augsburg at least once a year to speak in chapel. Often her advice to students, which she says is based on years of seeing who gets work and who doesn’t, is to get as much stage time as they can—wherever, whenever, and however—and to have a life outside of the theatre. “We hire people because they are active and are creating their own work, not waiting for someone,” she says. “And they also have some other passions that aren’t about theatre.” Lilledahl adds that an actor’s experiences outside of theatre help them bring life to a script and creativity to the stage. And perhaps that is what makes all these alumni successful. At Augsburg students are trained as actors, directors, and technicians, but they also learn how to become involved in their community as artists and as informed citizens. They understand that making connections is important to their careers and to their personal lives as well. They’re encouraged to explore many aspects of theatre, to develop their craft, and to work and learn at Augsburg and in the city. More than blocking and movement or scene study and character analysis, these are the lessons that will stick with them as they make their mark on the world’s stage. auggie alumni news From the Alumni Board president … Dear fellow alumni, ummer is in full swing, and that means one thing— lots of activities to enjoy with our families. Nobody celebrates summer quite as well as Minnesotans, and at Augsburg we are no exception. The Alumni Board has a number of family-friendly events planned for 2010 and 2011, and we hope you’ll join us! The annual Auggie Day at the Races, held at Canterbury Park on August 5, usually attracts more than 700 Augsburg alumni. It’s a wonderful opportunity for the whole family to enjoy an evening together. If you didn’t get to it this year, we hope to see you at Canterbury next year. Another summer favorite is the Minnesota State Fair. When you attend the “Great Minnesota Get-Together” this year, be sure to visit the Augsburg booth in the Education Building and tell us what you’re up to these days. Believe it or not, Homecoming is just around the corner—October 10–16. This year’s events feature something for everyone, including continuing education classes, Auggie Author Book Signing, alumni concerts, 5K fun run, football game against the Concordia-Moorhead Cobbers, and much more. Don’t forget to stop by the Alumni Board booth at the Taste of Augsburg to learn how to get involved. This fun event has been expanded with more carnival-style booths for a great time for the whole family. The mission of the Alumni Board is to connect alumni with the College to enjoy the events, friendships, and company of fellow Auggies. Each year the board has a planning session to ensure that we support our mission to provide great, compelling programs that renew and sustain your interest in Augsburg. Some ideas for this year include an expansion of the Uniquely Augsburg series, similar to June’s Dead Sea Scrolls event at the Science Museum that featured Professor Phil Quanbeck II; networking events; volunteer opportunities; lectures featuring Augsburg’s beloved faculty; and more. Augsburg was a gateway to the future for us as students. Now, as alumni, we put the lessons we learned from Augsburg’s unequaled education into action every day. Thanks to the life-altering experiences we share because of our alma mater, those of us on the Alumni Board work hard to unite the alumni of Augsburg College. Enjoy the rest of the summer! I look forward to seeing you at the many alumni events. s Sincerely, Welcome, new Alumni Board members! At its June meeting, the Augsburg College Alumni Board welcomed four new members who will serve three-year terms. Tracy Anderson is a third generation Auggie. She graduated in 1995 with a major in communication and a minor in business administration. Tracy attended Augsburg as a post-secondary student, studied as a day student, and completed her degree in Weekend College. She is a realtor with Edina Realty in Edina, and looks forward to networking with alumni and becoming involved in the Augsburg community. Christopher Ascher, a 1981 graduate with a major in finance and minor in psychology, played on Augsburg’s soccer team and is an A-Club member. He is senior vice president and a branch manager for Morgan Stanley Smith Barney in Bloomington. He enjoyed meeting more than 80 alumni as host of the January alumni winetasting event. Sarah Grans is a youth and family ministry graduate from 2001, also with a minor in psychology. She is director of outreach and faith formation at St. Peder’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. As a student she was active in Campus Ministry and was co-commissioner during her senior year. She wants to give back to Augsburg and reconnect alumni in meaningful ways. Sharon Mercill graduated with a bachelor’s degree in nursing in 2009 in Rochester and is currently a student in the Master of Arts in Nursing program. When she attended an Alumni Board meeting for a study project and enjoyed connecting with other alumni, she decided to become more involved and join the board. She is the RN study coordinator of breast cancer research at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. JOHN STADLER ’07 MAL PRESIDENT OF THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION Summer 2010 33 auggie alumni news Eye-Opener Breakfasts and Speaker Series Are you looking for an opportunity to hear from Twin Cities business leaders? Are you interested in a chance to network with fellow Augsburg alums? Well, Augsburg— through a pair of programs—has opportunities for you. The Eye-Opener Breakfast Series is for Augsburg alumni who want to network and learn from either a business leader or an Augsburg professor. The Strommen Executive Leader Speaker Series provides opportunities for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends to hear from high-level business executives. Here’s a look at the first speakers of the next academic year for both programs with dates to mark on your calendar. President Pribbenow and members of the Alumni Board celebrated with graduating day program seniors at their reception in May. (L to R) Rob Wagner ’02, John Stadler ’07 MAL, Holly (Ebnet) Knutson ’03, ’07 MBA, President Pribbenow, Dale Hanka ’60, Dan Hickle ’95, and Jennifer Carlson ’91. Eye-Opener Breakfast Series: The first event of the 2010-11 academic year will be held on Thursday, Sept. 30. In addition to breakfast and networking, attendees will hear from Nate Garvis, former vice president of government affairs and senior public relations officer for Target Corporation. Garvis will present his thoughts on innovative ways to share the work of building prosperous communities. Other EyeOpener Breakfasts will be held in 2011 on January 25 and May 10. The Eye-Opener Breakfasts are held at Town and Country Club in St. Paul, from 7–9 a.m. The cost is $5 person, which includes breakfast. RSVP by September 27 at www.augsburg.edu/alumnievents. Strommen Executive Leader Speaker Series: Richard Davis, CEO of U.S. Bank, will be the featured speaker for the first event of the academic year on November 18, at 5 p.m., in Sateren Auditorium. Additional events will be held on February 3 and April 7, 2011. The speaker series is free and held on campus. 34 Augsburg Now 2010 Augsburg graduates were excited to join the Alumni Association as they celebrated their achievements at the Senior Reception. (L to R) Lisa Yankauskas, Rosine Johnson, Brenna McHugh, and Barbara Simmons. go es i g g u a Ruth A. Schmidt ’52—Distinguished alumna and educator Ruth Schmidt, the first female president of Agnes Scott College, benefactor to Augsburg’s Women’s Resource Center, and Distinguished Alumna, died on May 24 in Decatur, Ga. Schmidt graduated summa cum laude in 1952 with a major in English and minors in Spanish and library science. She continued to study Spanish, earning master’s and doctoral degrees, and taught Spanish at the high school and college levels, including at Wheaton College and the State University of New York at Albany. After her appointment as dean of humanities at SUNY Albany, she went on to become president of Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Ga., until her retirement in 1994. She remained active in retirement through travel, international development work, women’s social justice issues, and peace initiatives. Her legacy at Agnes Scott includes establishment of study abroad programs, and increased diversity among faculty and students. Professor Emerita Ruth Aaskov ’52 was a classmate of Schmidt’s, and they became lifelong friends. As students, both were close to Anne Pederson, their English professor and mentor. When Augsburg established the Women’s Resource Center in 2000, it was named in memory of Pederson and funded by a generous gift from Schmidt. 0 1 0 2 G N M O HOMEC e it! 2010 c n e i r e exp Block off your calendar for the weekend of October 15–16 and return to campus for Homecoming 2010’s fun-filled festivities. The Homecoming Convocation kicks off the weekend on Friday, Oct. 15, when First Decade, Spirit of Augsburg, and Distinguished Alumni Award winners will be recognized. Professor Emeritus Philip Quanbeck Sr. ’50 will provide the keynote remarks at the Homecoming Convocation Luncheon. A number of Augsburg Experience lifelong-learning sessions are scheduled for Friday afternoon. In addition, the Auggie Author Book Signing and reading will take place prior to the Welcome Back Banquet. If you come to Saturday’s football game against the Concordia Cobbers, plan to get to campus long before the 1 p.m. kickoff. The day begins at 9:30 a.m. with the Come back for Homecoming October 10–16 family-friendly Anderson Hall Homecoming 5K Fun Run, and campus tours are available from 10 a.m. until noon. Three hours prior to kickoff, the Taste of Augsburg in Murphy Square will feature carnival-style booths operated by student groups, alumni, and local restaurants. In addition to carnival-style food, there will be games, inflatable bounce houses, and fun for the whole family. Back by popular demand is the Auggie Block Party (in Parking Lot K, between Melby Hall and Riverside Ave.) following the football game. Join alumni, students, and friends for food, entertainment, and camaraderie. Join fellow Auggies and music lovers after the Block Party for a celebration concert in Hoversten Chapel honoring Professor Stephen “Gabe” Gabrielsen ’63. Go to www.augsburg.edu/homecoming for information. Summer 2010 35 alumni class notes Stan Nelson, Andover, Minn., Jerilyn (Bjugstad) Wibbens, 43was selected as one of the 67Mukilteo, Wash., founded the World War II veterans whose service would be honored by flying them to Washington, D.C., at no cost, to visit the World War II memorial. Stan is the last survivor of four Navy officers from a landing craft that participated in the D-Day invasion in June 1944; he still attends annual reunions. Northwest Nordic Ladies Chorus, based in Everett, Wash., to keep singing the Norwegian songs she learned in her family and to learn songs from the other Nordic countries. They regularly perform at Scandinavian events and senior centers. Vera (Peterson) Rachuy, West- Peter Agre was honored in 52brook, Minn., a retired 70June, along with four other teacher, discovered a love and talent for painting that began during a prolonged and severe winter when she started to sketch her and her daughter’s dogs. graduates of Norwegian Lutheran colleges, with the “Going Viking” Award by Norway House in Minneapolis. The award recognizes the contributions of Norwegian Americans to the region. Rev. Darryl Torrin, Cedar Falls, 66Iowa, retired on July 1 after serving for 39 years in active parish ministry. For the past 13 years, he has served at St. John Maxfield Evangelical Lutheran Church in rural Denver, Iowa, where a retirement celebration was held on June 6. Alvina Strand Skogen, Eppen, N.D., is serving a two-year term as president of Western North Dakota Synodical Women’s Organization (Women of the ELCA). David Siedlar received the “Model Worker Award” from the Communist 71Party, City of Huaian, Jiangsu Province, China, in April, which was published in the party newspaper. Michael Good, Raritan, N.J., 71president and CEO of Sotheby's International Realty Affiliates, LLC, and chair of the Augsburg College Board of Regents, was named to the Inman 100, a list of the top 100 most influential leaders in real estate for 2009 by Inman News. department at Lake Superior College in Duluth. She has a master’s degree in business administration from the University of St. Thomas, a master’s degree in education from College of St. Scholastica, and a graduate certificate in educational computing and technology from University of Minnesota-Duluth. Kathy (Langemo) Dugdale, Su- 72perior, Wis., was named director of the business services Annette (Olsen) Hustad, Glenwood, Minn., is “Lena” in the comedy singing duo, “Tina and Lena,” along with Susan “Tina” Edwards. For 25 years, they have entertained audiences in the Upper Midwest and farther with music, humor, and fun. With degrees in music therapy and music education, she taught K-12 music for 10 years. In April they performed at the Lifestyles Expo in Alexandria. Lois (Wennen) Larson, White 80Bear Lake, Minn., was named to a one-year appointment as interim financial aid director at Metropolitan State University in Minneapolis, effective Feb. 1. Joan (Maland) Mussa was re- 81cently named senior vice presiParticipants in the Master of Arts in Leadership study and cultural tour of Norway in June pause for a group photo in the mountain resort town of Geilo. Twenty-eight Augsburg faculty, alumni, students, and friends of the College took part in the customized MAL program done in conjunction with Diakonhjemmet University College in Oslo, Augsburg experts on Norway, and CrossingBorders travel company in the Twin Cities. Pictured are Ruth and Raymond Burgau; Paul ’65, Priscilla ’65, David, Karen, Andrew, Lynnsey, and Erika Fieldhammer; Professor Douglas Green; John Grafstrom and Carol Sime ’73; Pete and Glenda Holste ’05 MAL; Lucinda Hruska-Claeys ’10 MAL; Paul ’80 and Rebecca Kilgore; Professor Lynn Lindow; Roger and Linda Nielsen; Angeline and Jeanne Nelson ’09 MBA; Professor Norma Noonan; Patty ’02 MAL and Warren Park; Tawni Reller; Professor Linda Stevens; Professor Barbara West. Look for more about the MAL experiences in Norway at www.augsburg.edu/now 36 Augsburg Now dent for donor engagement, advocacy, and communications at the United States office of World Vision, one of the largest relief, development, and advocacy organizations in the world. Her responsibilities include overseeing the work of all private fund raising, government relations, advocacy, internet, publications, and additional communication functions. She and her husband, Mohammed, and their three children live near Seattle. Tessa Flynn, Minneapolis, ap- 05peared in the Frank Theatre Daniel Werner and Shayne 95Hamann, Little Canada, Minn., announce the birth of their daughter, Savannah, born on Feb. 20. Savannah joins her twin brothers, Drake and Dylan, age 3. Monica Fitzgerald, Washing- Ryan Carlson BA ’96 and BS ’02 and his wife, Lauren, St. Paul, an- 96nounce the births of identical twin daughters, Adelaine Elizabeth and Isadora Louise, on Feb. 14. Addy and Izzy join brother Quin, 4 1/2. The family lives in the Highland Park neighborhood of St. Paul. Ryan is an engineer for Seagate. Karen Reed, Atascadero, Calif., 82ton, D.C., is director of CIO 90was appointed program direc- University and the deputy director of the IT Accessibility and Workforce Division in the General Services Administration’s Office of Governmentwide Policy. In 2009 she was selected as a member of the Council for Excellence in the Fellow’s Program of the Partnership for Public Service, which focuses on servant leadership. tor in January at Coalinga State Hospital, the newest state mental health hospital in the California Department of Mental Health. She formerly served 18 years as a registered music therapist at Atascadero State Hospital. She continues to represent forensic psychiatric music therapy treatment at the national and regional music therapy conferences. Tim Asgrimson, Edina, Minn., Anthony Patton has published 83was recently named the chief 91his second novel, Unfaithfully financial officer of Kraus-Anderson Cos., where he has worked since 2007 as assistant chief financial officer. For 16 years prior to that he provided tax, auditing, and consulting services to the company. Yours, a love story in which he explores how hard-working couples can achieve happiness and success in the time it takes to watch a great movie. Sharon (Fairbanks) Romano, Minneapolis, has served as director of the Department of Indian Work of the St. Paul Area Council of Churches for the past year. 87 Kristin Eggerling, Hallock, 89Minn., is a freelance writer and has served on the board of Conservation Minnesota. A recent article on StarTribune.com featured her family’s outing to view the giant jack pine in Lake Bronson State Park. Nnamdi Okoronkwo, Minneapolis, an assistant city attorney with the City of Minneapolis, was appointed in April by Governor Tim Pawlenty to a four-year term on the Council on Black Minnesotans. Luann Roth, Columbia, Mo., has been appointed as education coordinator of the Mizzou Advantage, a collaboration of five programs of excellence at the University of Missouri. She will facilitate interdisciplinary curriculum and courses for these five areas. She has been an instructor in the English Department and is completing her doctorate in American film and folklore. Heidi (Wachholz) Boll, Minneapolis, was named vice president of sales for the Northeast Region of Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America. She joined the company in 2001 and has held several positions within it. 94 Lori (Langager) Higgins, Blaine, Minn., became president of the MetroNorth Chamber of Commerce in the Twin Cities in May. She has worked for the chamber since February 2009 and became its first female chief executive officer. Kari (Schroeder) Prescott, Minneapolis, took a new position as representative for Minnesota to the American Podiatric Medical Association in Washington, D.C., and will be kept busy with the current healthcare debate issues. Matthew Gooding, Sun Lakes, 95Ariz., graduated from a medical assistant program and is currently looking for and interviewing for jobs. Carye (Johnson) Bye, Portland company’s adaptation of Kafka’s Metamorphosis, which ran at the Open Eye Figure Theatre in Minneapolis during April. She is also on the board of the theatre. (Read more about her on p. 28). Jessica (Norman) and Eric 01Hafemeyer welcomed Kristen Marie on February 22. Kristen joins big sister, Lauren, 3. Christina (Boe) Anderson, 04Blaine, Minn., and her husband, Michael, welcomed their new daughter, Charlotte Marie, on Feb. 25. Chad Darr and his wife, Krista, welcomed a son, Hayden James, on May 5. Miranda Nelson, Chicago, 06began the clinical psychology PhD program at the University of Illinois at Chicago last fall. She plans on specializing in pediatric neuropsychology and will graduate with her doctoral degree in 2014. Dan Morlock, St. Paul, is site 97Ore., is owner of Red Bat 07leader of a before- and-after- Press, a print and design company. She wrote and illustrated a book, Hidden Portland: Museums & Collections, in 2010 with Bedouin Books. school child care program for the Roseville school district called Friendship Connection. Ted Schultz, Bloomington, 98Minn., started a new position as activities director at Minnetonka (Minn.) High School on July 1. He had served for six years in the same position at Bloomington Jefferson High School. Adam Erickson, Chanhassen, 00Minn., was appointed busi- ness banking officer at Anchor Bank in Eden Prairie. Prior to this he was a business relationship manager for Wells Fargo Bank. Maureen O’Shaughnessy was featured as a music therapist on WCCO-TV about her work with autistic children at Fraser Child and Family Center. Molly Shortall recently completed her master's degree at Manhattan School of Music. She has been in New York City for two years and works as a house musician at a large church in Brooklyn. This summer, she's singing the role of Second Lady in Die Zauberflöte. Summer 2010 37 Colonel Steven Charles ’76 receives Legion of Merit On May 1, Colonel Steven Charles ’76 received the Legion of Merit, the highest award not received for valor, which is awarded for “exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements.” While Charles’ 30-year military career began in 1977 as a navy pilot, he received the Legion of Merit for his work as program manager from 2001 to 2007 in the 87th Air Force Element, and air director of joint operations, Air Force Element, U.S. Army Forces Command, 87th Battle Command Training Division in Birmingham, Ala. The citation states, “In this key leadership position, Colonel Charles served as project officer for nine major exercises and 15 Command Post exercises preparing over 30,000 Army troops for Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom, and the Global War on Terrorism.” His duties included training the soldiers how to call in close air support. By teaching soldiers how to talk to Air Force support, how to call in for help, and what protocols and information they needed, they could quickly be rescued, saving their own lives and those of other ground forces. He also developed a successful Train the Trainers program that provided understanding of joint operations within the modern battlefield. During his military career, Charles served two cruises aboard the USS Constellation where he had more than 200 carrier landings. He was chosen to become a Navy A-4 adversary pilot and graduated from the Navy Fighter Weapons School. He Rikki Starich, Lexington, Ky., was recently appointed assistant director of annual giving at Transylvania University in Lexington. In May she completed her Master of Education in higher education administration/ institutional advancement. Andrew Sinko, Blaine, Minn., a teacher in Spring Lake Park, Minn., has been accepted to a University of London doctoral program. Zac Wooten, New York, received his master’s degree from New York University and continues to express appreciation for the support of faculty at Augsburg. A.J. Hau and his brother, Chris, 10from Fort Collins, Colo., were signed by the Colorado Eagles hockey team. They both advanced through the Northern Colorado Youth Hockey and Colorado State University hockey programs. Christopher Stedman gradu- 08ated with a master’s degree in theology from Meadville Lombard Theological School of Chicago. 38 Augsburg Now Jens Olsen and Heidi Le will spend the 2010–11 academic year in Vietnam on Fulbright English Teaching Awards. Courtesy photo alumni class notes Colonel Steven Charles ’76 (left) received the Legion of Merit, presented to him in Birmingham, Ala., on May 1, by Brigadier General David W. Puster. crossed to the Air Force and was an instructor in both the F-111 Aardvark and the F-117 Stealth Fighter. In 1990, he appeared on national television as one of the two pilots flying a Stealth Fighter during their unveiling. He left active duty in 1991 and joined the Air Force Reserves before joining the 87th Division. He retired from the military in 2007 and is now a Boeing 767 pilot for Delta Air Lines. BETSEY NORGARD Graduate Programs Sarah Resor ’06 MAL and Eric Johnson, both of Robbinsdale, Minn., were married Feb. 27 in Oak Ridge Conference Center. Mike Bilden ’07 MAL, St. Louis Park, Minn., is coordinator of the new Adult Degree Completion Program in the College of Business and Economics at University of WisconsinRiver Falls. He has served as director of continuing education at North Hennepin Community College and director of adult and graduate admissions at Augsburg. Larry McGraw ’10 MBA, Owatonna, Minn., has been appointed senior vice president and chief credit officer of Home Federal Savings Bank in Rochester. Previously he spent eight years at United Prairie Bank in Mankato, Minn. Hector Matascastillo ’10 MSW is using his own experience and gift of compassion to help veterans when they return from war. Send us your news and photos Please tell us about the news in your life, your new job, move, marriage, and births. Don’t forget to send photos! For news of a death, printed notice is required, e.g. an obituary, funeral notice, or program from a memorial service. Send your news items, photos, or change of address by mail to: Augsburg Now Class Notes, Augsburg College, CB 146, 2211 Riverside Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55454, or e-mail alumni@augsburg.edu. You can also submit news at www.augsburg.edu/alumni. ____________________________________________________________ Full name ____________________________________________________________ Maiden name ____________________________________________________________ Class year or last year attended ____________________________________________________________ Street address ____________________________________________________________ City, State, Zip code Is this a new address? q Yes q No ____________________________________________________________ Home telephone In Memoriam ____________________________________________________________ E-mail Olsen, W. Donald ’34, Sioux Falls, S.D., age 99, on Dec. 20. Nelson, Gordon A., ’54, Cloquet, Minn., age 77, on April 9. Okay to publish your e-mail address? q Yes q No Paulson, Dr. Eric ’38, Spokane, Wash., age 92, on March 6. Wolden, Gerhard ’56, Minneapolis, age 82, on April 5. ____________________________________________________________ Employer Shebeck, Ethel (Sinner) ’38, Richfield, Minn., age 93, on November 14. Welch, Robert ’58, Burlingame, Calif., age 73, on March 28. Ronholm, Olive ’47, Golden Valley, Minn., age 84, on March 9. Peterson, Robert ’49, New London, Minn., age 83, on April 8. Schmeltzer, George W. ’61, Minneapolis, age 70, on March 31. Faue, Jeffrey L. ’68, Belle Mead, N.J., age 64, on April 15. ____________________________________________________________ Position ____________________________________________________________ Work telephone Is spouse also a graduate of Augsburg College? q Yes q No Bolstad, Nan (Haraseth) ’69, Jefferson, Ore., age 63, on March 2. If yes, class year ________________________________________________ Metz, Rev. Richard G. ’74, Sisters, Ore., age 63, on May 13. ____________________________________________________________ Spouse’s name Arney, Claudia (Odegaard) ’78, Clarkdale, Iowa, age 74, on April 17. ____________________________________________________________ Maiden name Davis, Gerald ’51, Litchfield, Minn., age 82, on April 21. Haugan, Joan ’80, Spring Lake Park, Minn., age 80, on Feb. 14, 2009. Your news: ____________________________________________________________ Stenvig, Charles Selmer ’51, Sun City, Ariz., age 82, on February 22. Thayer, Nancybeth (Sedgwick) ’80, Hermantown, Minn., age 49, on June 30, 2006. Schmidt, Ruth A. ’52, Decatur, Ga., age 79, on May 24 (See story on p. 35) Reinhart, Laura Jane ’82, Livermore, Calif., age 49, on January 2. Hegland, Dagny (Quanbeck) ’50, Brandon, S.D., age 81, on March 17. Johnson, Esther ’50, Minneota, Minn., age 80, on April 15. Johnson, Rev. LeRoy ’50, Richland, Mich., on January 11, 2009. Kjos, Edwin ’54, Abbotsford, Wis., age 85, on March 31. Therres, Emmaline (Schlueter), Chaska, Minn., age 66, on April 2; former faculty member. ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ q I know a student who is interested in attending Augsburg. Summer 2010 39 my Auggie experience By all accounts—his own included—sophomore Gottlieb Uahengo had a difficult first semester at Augsburg College. Making the move to Minneapolis from his home in Namibia meant many changes. He missed his family and friends and got sick five times from the food. He was introduced to Mountain Dew and the effects of over-consumption. “I didn’t sleep for several days,” he says. And when he witnessed his first snowfall, a fellow student asked him, “Are you alright? You look disturbed.” Uahengo is a Legacy Scholarship student. His father graduated from the University of Minnesota and came to work in Augsburg’s Physics Department while his wife, Fredericka ’90, completed her degree in education. Gottlieb was actually born at Fairview Riverside Hospital but lived most of his life in Oshakati, Namibia, where his father is a pharmacist and his mother serves as the rector of Ongwediva Teachers College. When it came time to apply for college, Uahengo’s father said, “I’m sending you to Augsburg.” Because Uahengo wants to be an engineer, his father wanted him to study in a small school with a good physics department. “My father holds professors [Mark] Engebretson and [Jeff] Johnson in high esteem,” Uahengo says. “He told me I would get more out of my education at Augsburg than at a large, public university.” His father also told him to be prepared for the challenge of college life. “He said the best way to overcome adversity is to become part of the community, to take a leap of faith.” And that’s exactly what led to a better second semester and a successful first year at Augsburg for Uahengo. Greg Holker, Augsburg’s men’s soccer coach, said Uahengo looked frightened and overwhelmed when the two first met last summer. “I wasn’t sure he would amount to much as a soccer player because he seemed frail physically and psychologically,” Holker recalls. After a tentative start, Holker says the first-year player definitely made an impact on the team. “He scored a big goal against Buena Vista and took off in training from that point on,” says Holker. “He sought out improvement and soaked up as much information as he could. Rarely do I see a person that determined to learn and learn quickly.” Rebekah Dupont, whom Uahengo calls his mentor, says he displayed the same tenacity in his academics as on the soccer field. Dupont worked with him in Augsburg’s North Star STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) program. He participated in the calculus workshop, a class in which students work together on challenging problems. He also got involved in a research project, something not many first-year students take on. “Gottlieb has very high expectations for himself, and I think this made adapting to so many new things all at once a challenge,” Dupont says. “As he feels more comfortable and confident, those high expectations and strong work ethic will serve him very well.” In addition to conducting research during the school year, Uahengo is working on a summer project with another student and professor Ben Stottrup of the Physics Department. This fall he will be an officer with Augsburg’s International Student Organization and will continue to play soccer. He also hopes to compete on the track team as a sprinter in the spring term. “When I set my mind to something, it’s hard to sway me,” Uahengo says. “I am always looking for a way to be engaged.” WENDI WHEELER ’06 40 Augsburg Now an augsburg legacy Joyce Young “I value the impact of my Augsburg education on my life and career … That’s why I am giving back through naming Augsburg as owner of a life insurance policy. Augsburg’s gift planning team, along with my financial adviser, showed me the great benefits.” 1-800-273-0617 www.augsburg.edu/giving Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Minneapolis, MN Permit No. 2031 2211 Riverside Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55454 Courtesy photo Augsburg Choir tours China The Augsburg Choir and the choir from Guangxi Provincial Normal University in Guilin, China, pose for a giant group photo during the choir’s trip through China. For the choir’s China blog and photos, go to www.augsburg.edu/music.
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Augsburg Now Spring 2010
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Augsburg Now Spring 2010: Out Of The Box Auggies
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102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:29 AM Page 1 AUGSBURG NOW SPRING 2010 VOL. 71, NO. 3 inside out of the Augsburg Now The Magazine of Augsburg College 25Photo Years of Life-Changing contest winners Peace Prize Forum 2010 Lutefisk and a legacy In the neighborhood Travel Learning t...
Show more 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:29 AM Page 1 AUGSBURG NOW SPRING 2010 VOL. 71, NO. 3 inside out of the Augsburg Now The Magazine of Augsburg College 25Photo Years of Life-Changing contest winners Peace Prize Forum 2010 Lutefisk and a legacy In the neighborhood Travel Learning to learn Pursuing an ideal education page 20 Connecting the dots for good IGNITE program box Auggies 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:29 AM Page 2 Editor Betsey Norgard norgard@augsburg.edu Creative Director notes from President Pribbenow Kathy Rumpza ’05 MAL rumpza@augsburg.edu Creative Associate-Editorial Wendi Wheeler ’06 wheelerw@augsburg.edu Creative Associate-Design Jen Nagorski ’08 nagorski@augsburg.edu Multiply your mind by giving it away Photographer a Webmaster/Now Online s this issue of Augsburg Now illustrates, the Augsburg community is engaged in many efforts and initiatives that are best characterized as innovative—or “out-of-the-box,” as they’re called here. In fact, I believe deeply that there is something about Augsburg and its mission that lends itself to this sort of entrepreneurial spirit, this willingness to try new ways of doing things in service to our students and neighbors. Just think of the last 30 years of new programs at Augsburg— the Weekend College; the expansion to seven graduate programs; the Augsburg campus at Bethel Lutheran Church in Rochester and at St. Stephen Lutheran Church in Bloomington; the Augsburg Core Curriculum ––(AugCore), with its expansive framework for educating students in the liberal arts and in the world; the CLASS office, providing support for students with learning differences; the StepUP program, meeting the needs of students recovering from addictions; and the list goes on and on. All examples of how Augsburg is on the leading edge of providing an excellent education in new and innovative ways. I’ve recently been reading literature on helping organizations to embrace and sustain a culture of innovation—that is, to create organizational cultures that are constantly looking for new and different ways to do things, to make products, to deliver services; to save souls, educate students, heal the sick. Recently, I happened upon the writing of Mark Federman, a Canadian scholar whose writings on innovation include this provocative suggestion: “Multiply your mind by giving it away.” And Federman means exactly what he says—be generous, be charitable, give instead of always taking. Because when you are generous with your mind, with your knowledge and education, you help to create organizations and neighborhoods and agencies and churches and schools that are marked not by the scarcity of the world but by the abundance of what’s possible when generosity of mind and heart and spirit is our guiding principle. How will you give away your mind in the communities and organizations you serve? I constantly find examples of such generosity of mind right here in the Augsburg community, and you’ll see them in the stories featured here. For example, I’m struck by the ways in which staff member Brian Noy and his many colleagues who run our Campus Kitchen program are illustrating this generosity of mind and spirit. In addition to the ongoing preparation and delivery of 2,000 meals a month they serve to our neighbors in Phillips and Cedar-Riverside, they have focused our attention on the important role that food plays in our lives—as sustenance for our bodies, as fellowship for our community, as politics and economics in our neighborhood and world. They have multiplied their minds by giving them away to all of us. And the results are staggering— a community garden on the edge of campus that brings together neighbors and students and children, a Farmers Market that brings organic farmers from across the region to campus, composting of leftover everything in the cafeteria, and so much more—abundance through generosity. The gift of an education, an Augsburg education, calls all of us to this generous undertaking of multiplying your mind and knowledge and experience by giving it away so that it serves God’s abundant intentions for God’s people and world. That is the sort of innovation that is at the heart of Augsburg’s mission and vision. I’m proud to share in this significant work. PAUL C. PRIBBENOW, PRESIDENT Stephen Geffre geffre@augsburg.edu Bryan Barnes barnesb@augsburg.edu Director of News and Media Services Jeff Shelman shelman@augsburg.edu Sports Information Director Don Stoner stoner@augsburg.edu Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Communication Rebecca John rjohn@augsburg.edu Director of Alumni and Constituent Relations Kim Stone stonek@augsburg.edu www.augsburg.edu Augsburg Now is published by Augsburg College 2211 Riverside Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55454 Opinions expressed in Augsburg Now do not necessarily reflect official College policy. ISSN 1058-1545 Send address corrections to: Advancement Services CB 142 Augsburg College 2211 Riverside Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55454 healyk@augsburg.edu E-mail: now@augsburg.edu Telephone: 612-330-1181 Fax: 612-330-1780 au w 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:30 AM Page 3 spring 2010 Features 10 14 6 10 14 10th annual International Programs Photo Contest 2010 Nobel Peace Prize Forum Lutefisk, a log cabin, and a 50-year legacy by Betsey Norgard 17 auggies out of the box 20 34 20 Pursuing an ideal education by Wendi Wheeler ’06 23 In the neighborhood contents by Jeff Shelman 28 augsburg now Departments 2 5 8 9 37 40 44 Around the Quad Auggies on the ice Auggie voices It takes an Auggie Alumni news Class notes My Auggie experience 25 Learning to learn—without any A, B, Cs by Jeff Shelman 28 Connecting the dots for good by Bryan Barnes 31 IGNITE-ing Auggie spirit by Betsey Norgard 34 The Bod Pod by Betsey Norgard 36 Out of the box partnerships by Rebecca John On the cover It’s impossible to arrange many of the programs, people, and partnerships at Augsburg neatly into a box. With their creative perspectives and unique features, the stories here show how Augsburg often looks and acts “out-of-the-box.” All photos by Stephen Geffre unless otherwise indicated. 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:31 AM Page 4 around the quad Auggies win 11th national wrestling title With eight All-Americans and three national runner-up individuals, the Augsburg College wrestling team claimed its 11th NCAA Division III national title in the last 20 seasons in March in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Augsburg finished with 110.5 points, 10 points better than second-place Wisconsin-La Crosse’s 100.5. Defending national champion Wartburg (Iowa) was third with 83.5 points, Coe (Iowa) was fourth with 76.0 points, and Delaware Valley (Pa.) was fifth with 50.5 points. In his second year as Augsburg’s head wrestling coach, Mark Matzek ’05 was named Division III National Coach of the Year by the National Wrestling Coaches Association—and at age 27, is the youngest head coach to ever win a Division III wrestling national title. Augsburg assistant head coach Jared Evans ’07 was named National Assistant Coach of the Year by the NWCA. “It was nine individual efforts that created this team national championship,” Matzek said. “I’m proud of each and every one of the guys who wrestled, and I’m proud of each and every one of the guys in this program.” The final session of the tournament completed a unique first for the Auggies—the first time Augsburg has won a national title without an individual national titlist. The feat has occurred just twice before in the 37-year history of the Division III championships. Have you seen the new signs? The new LED “Augsburg” atop Mortensen Hall now serves as a beacon to commuters who pass by on Interstate 94 and as a marker of Augsburg’s location. To read more and see a video of the construction, go to the “Auggie Sign” page on Facebook. Photo by Caleb Williams Auggie wrestlers, students, families, and friends celebrated Augsburg’s 11th national championship. 2 Augsburg Now 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:31 AM Page 5 Augsburg receives five Fulbright awards In the past weeks, three Augsburg students, one faculty member, and the Center for Global Education have all been notified that they have received Fulbright awards for next year. May graduates Jens Olsen and Heidi Le will both teach English in Vietnam during the 2010-11 academic year. Bethany Hellerich, a 2009 graduate who is spending this year as a member of the Lutheran Volunteer Corps, will teach English in Indonesia. All three have plans to further their education after their year abroad, as Olsen will apply to medical school, Le has deferred admission to pharmacy school, and Hellerich is interested in a public health graduate program. Seven Augsburg students have been awarded Fulbrights over the past three years and the College has been recognized as a top producer of winners. Hellerich said Augsburg’s Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunity office (URGO) deserves credit for working with students and pushing them to believe that they can have success. “I’m just fortunate that [URGO director] Dixie Shafer exists and magical things happen when she works with you on your application,” Hellerich said. “She’s very helpful with giving good and detailed feedback.” English professor Colin Irvine will spend the next academic year traveling the length of Norway as a Fulbright Roving Scholar in American Studies. Courtesy photo College mourns the death of faculty Professor Don Steinmetz, who taught in the Languages and Cross-Cultural Studies Department for 41 years, died of an apparent heart attack on Dec. 28. He was 71. His son, Erik Steinmetz, is a member of Augsburg’s Computer Science Donald Steinmetz Myles Stenshoel Department faculty. Don Steinmetz served as chair of the department and taught courses in German and Spanish. He also taught Chinese and linguistics within the Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities consortium. Professor Emeritus Myles Stenshoel died on March 26 following a short illness. He taught at Augsburg for 28 years and continued to teach part time in retirement. In 1965 he came to Augsburg and established the Political Science Department the following year. His interests were in politics and religion, and he was deeply committed to social action. Also mourned is Neal Thorpe ’60, former faculty member and a Distinguished Alumnus, who died in Vancouver, Wash., on March 3. Jens Olsen and Heidi Le Colin Irvine In this role, Irvine will prepare presentations on American studies topics and visit schools across Norway to provide opportunities for Norwegian teenagers to learn about the United States. Based in Oslo, he will likely give between 250 and 300 presentations across the country. “I’ve always been interested in the possibility of working or teaching overseas,” Irvine said. “This roving scholar program was perfect.” In addition, the Center for Global Education also received its fifth Fulbright-Hays Group Project award and will host a four-week curriculum development program for teachers during July and August in Namibia. Editor’s Note The last issue of the Now had a story, “Augsburg’s first travel to Egypt.” Alas, we have received a note from social work Professor Emerita Edwina (Eddie) Hertzberg, who tells us it isn’t so. “In 1979, for the January Interim, the College sponsored a course, Social Services and Public Policy in a Developing Country: Egypt, 1979,” she writes. “I was the faculty instructor, assisted by former adjunct professor Nagwa Farag and two of her colleagues from Helwan University in Cairo. My request to Professor Farag had been that we get as close to Egyptian people as possible so that our experience include the depth that only such engagement can provide. Eleven students, Augsburg and St. Olaf, from a variety of disciplines, participated in the month-long program. … [I]t was a remarkable educational and life-impacting experience for us all, students and faculty alike.” Spring 2010 3 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:31 AM Page 6 around the quad Yi started out the semester in the back of the room, about as far away from me as possible. He showed relatively little interest; his homework and test grades were poor. Yet when I called on him he responded with reasonable answers. Like others hiding in the back row, Yi had potential; he just needed some personal attention and prodding. I took to writing notes on his homework encouraging him to move forward and talk to me. One afternoon he appeared in my office, and we talked for an hour about many things—about the class, how he came to United International College (UIC), and his goals. Eventually he closed the office door and wanted to talk about the injuries his uncle experienced in Tiananmen Square in 1989. But the fear was still too great and he left. Yi did move forward, began to interact with me, and soon his work, tests, and comments improved remarkably. He began to enjoy thinking philosophically. Through a special arrangement, Augsburg made it possible for me to teach philosophy during the fall semester at UIC in Zhuhai, China. In three classes I was privileged to work with 120 bright Chinese students. A new, English-medium liberal arts college on the mainland, UIC is an experiment to provide a more Western style of education to the Chinese. China is dramatically changing as it attempts to educate its population, and UIC is one of eight brand-new universities built in Zhuhai in the last 10 years. “I told my students that part of my mission was to corrupt them, to move them from the passive state of being excellent note-takers and regurgitators of teachers’ PowerPoints to being able to think and question for themselves.” In Introduction to Philosophy we read Plato’s Apology, where Socrates is accused of corrupting the youth by getting them to question those in authority who claimed that they knew when they really didn’t. I told my students that part of my mission was to corrupt them, to move them from the passive state of being excellent note-takers and regurgitators of teachers’ PowerPoints to being able to think and question for themselves. By the end of the term over half of the students were engaging me in the classroom discussion, raising questions and objections and making the class their own. Courtesy photo Philosophy, religion, and Chinese food Professor Bruce Reichenbach with students (from left) Daisy, Serena, and Charlene enjoy noodles and discussion after class in Zhuhai, China. My Philosophy of Religion students and I would walk down to the student canteen on Friday for lunch and conversation. Jiang sat next to me and between bites of noodles asked, “Do you really believe in God?” Teaching Philosophy of Religion provided both a challenge and opportunity, as both the students and I looked for a common ground of understanding between our two cultures and worldviews. Once the initial barriers of passive learning were put to rest, the classroom boiled with discussion, questions, challenges, and good humor. Here, too, the students would linger. Tony periodically stayed around for an hour, his phenomenology book in hand, to inquire how Heidegger would view these ideas. Self taught in philosophy, he was eager to connect the course ideas with his own reading. Three Augsburg students and four recent graduates, serving as teaching assistants, also joined the UIC community, providing cross-cultural connections that will continue to develop as students and faculty visit each other’s campuses in the years ahead. At the end of the term two of my classes took my wife and me to Chinese restaurants to show their appreciation. We toasted friendship and a wonderful semester as we affirmed that we all liked philosophy and Chinese food. BRUCE REICHENBACH Professor of philosophy 4 Augsburg Now 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:31 AM Page 7 Auggies on the ice Chris Johnson—A third-generation hockey star Chris Johnson certainly has an impressive hockey pedigree. Chris is the son of Mark Johnson, a member of the fabled “Miracle on Ice” 1980 U.S. Olympic team, a pro hockey star, and coach of the 2010 U.S. Olympic women’s silver-medal hockey squad. He’s the grandson of “Badger” Bob Johnson, one of the greatest coaches in American hockey history—who also happened to attend Augsburg for a year before transferring to the University of Wisconsin. And his siblings all played hockey on various teams. But Chris Johnson has also made a name for himself as a leader of the Auggie men’s hockey team. A native of Verona, Wis., Johnson had a terrific career as an Auggie, scoring 41 goals with 74 assists for 115 points in his 104-game career. He had a goal or assist in 15 of Augsburg’s 27 games this season, including seven multiple-point efforts. Johnson’s squads reached the MIAC postseason playoffs in three of his four seasons, including two with him as team captain. He earned All-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors all four seasons and All-American honors last year. Off the ice, Johnson will also be remembered as a top hockey player. He’s a member of Augsburg’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and has helped lead hockey ministry and Bible-study groups of student-athletes. He’s also worked with the Herb Brooks Foundation’s “Rink Rats” program, teaching hockey skills to students from the Seward Montessori School. Johnson is a finance major with a 3.4 GPA. “Hockey was everywhere when we were growing up, in a good way, not in a pressure way,” Johnson told columnist Rachel Blount of the Star Tribune in a January feature. “We all got to play at the same high school as my dad. He taught us that even though we might have a last name that helps, it doesn’t matter if you don’t work hard. But he also told us that at the end of the day, it’s all about having fun.” This season was a special one for the Johnson family. Since the U.S. women’s hockey team was based at the Schwan Super Rink in Blaine, Minn., prior to the Olympics, Mark—who took a leave of absence from his job as coach of the University of Wisconsin women’s hockey team to lead the Olympic squad—had ample opportunities to be with his son in the Twin Cities. Mark attended several of his son’s games at Augsburg, and the two met weekly for dinner and father-son bonding. In a “Profiles of Excellence” feature on the CollegeSportingNews.com website by Rich Mies in January, Chris Johnson said that his experience at Augsburg has been a positive one. “I’ve received a great education here,” he said, “and I cherish the relationships I’ve made here with teammates, coaches, teachers, and friends. I’ve grown up a lot while I’ve been here.” He also said he may consider following in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps and coach hockey someday. DON STONER Spring 2010 5 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:31 AM Page 8 International Programs 1 Photo Contest Portraits 1st place: Matt Anderson “Soccer at Le Sacré Coeur” Paris, France 2nd place: Sandra Meyer “Yes” Managua, Nicaragua 3rd place: Dan Thewis “Friday at Al-Azhar Mosque” Cairo, Egypt Landscape/cityscape 1 1st place: Norah Thompson “Villa Joyosa, España” Madrid, Spain 2nd place: Malena Thoson “Municipal Dump” Managua, Nicaragua 3rd place: Elizabeth Robinson “Work Will Set You Free” Berlin, Germany Photojournalism 1st place: Dan Thewis “Cairo at Midnight” Cairo, Egypt 2nd place: Norah Thompson “El niño en Madrid” Madrid, Spain 6 Augsburg Now 1 3rd place: Sandra Meyer “Nonchalant” Managua, Nicaragua 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:31 AM Page 9 3 2 3 3 2009 2 INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS 2 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:32 AM Page 10 auggie voices How girlfriends do theology “Doing Theology with Girlfriends,” or DTwG as it is known, is not your typical Bible study. Sonja Hagander, associate pastor at Augsburg, started DTwG because students told her they wanted a Bible study on campus. “But you can’t always call it a ‘Bible study,’” Hagander says, “because that means it’s difficult or boring or only for people who already understand the Bible.” So DTwG gives women at Augsburg a chance to connect, to support each other, and to relate their own life experiences to scripture. This group of girlfriends gathers once a month to share stories of their lives and to “do” theology. The idea for DTwG came as Hagander reflected on how she loved spending time with her own girlfriends and on the importance of relating to other women. When the group gathers each month, one woman shares a story from her life. The others then share their own feelings and memories related to the story. Hagander chooses a reading or two from the Bible, which the women use to dig deeper into their experiences. Finally, they ask how what they’ve learned might change their daily lives or the way they practice their faith. On the last Monday in January, one student talked about what it means to “truly experience” nature as she related the story of her family’s vacation in Denali National Park. “I sat there for hours, looking out for miles, reflecting and praying and trying to figure out my place within God’s beautiful creation,” she said. 8 Augsburg Now Hagander passed out copies of Psalm 23, and the girlfriends identified their own green pastures and still waters. For one, a late-night jog around the lakes in Minneapolis was a way for her to connect to nature. Another experienced the majesty of creation while watching the sunrise over the Grand Canyon. Then Hagander asked the group to examine the dark and destructive side of nature using Job’s account of a fire-breathing, stone-hearted leviathan. This led to a discussion about the massive loss of life caused by the earthquakes in Haiti. One woman marveled at the faith that kept some people alive as they waited for days to be pulled from the rubble of destroyed homes, churches, and schools. “Today is a gift that we get to use in the best way possible,” Hagander said, asking how the women could take this discussion into their lives. This hour wasn’t a gab session or group therapy. But it wasn’t an ordinary Bible study either. There were no right answers or theologically sound interpretations. Just coffee and tea, comfortable chairs, a pink candle, and a chance to share. That is how girlfriends do theology. WENDI WHEELER ’06 Back row (L to R): Amy Wenzel, Whitney Pratt, Pastor Sonja Hagander, Ally Streed, Sara Thiry, Emily Wiles; Front row (L to R): Lonna Field, Carly Facchini, Dixie Scruggs, Marrta Wyatt, Angelica Erickson, Sylvia Bull 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:32 AM Page 11 it takes an Auggie A young woman meets her many grandmothers Last year, Krystal Mattison ’10 studied in Korea. Many students who study abroad are profoundly affected by the experience. For Mattison, a history and American Indian studies major from St. Paul, spending the year abroad was a life-changing opportunity to bond with her new grandmothers. Mattison is the granddaughter of a “comfort woman.” During World War II, thousands of Korean women were forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese military. Some of these women did not survive their ordeal, and many were unable to have children as a result of their treatment. Furthermore, the women were unable to talk about their experiences until many years later. Her grandmother died when Mattison was five years old, but she heard the story from her father. While in Korea, Mattison spent time at the House of Sharing, an organization in Seoul that houses and cares for the surviving comfort women. She says that after she told them about her grandmother, the women became her adopted grandmothers (halmonis), even giving her the Korean name Soo-Jeong. “They spoiled me, holding my hands and feeding me,” she says. She learned from the women, who now think of themselves not as victims but as survivors and activists, that speaking out against violence is an important part of the healing process. “This experience brought me so much completion that I had to do something.” That “something” was to connect with Jessica Nathanson, assistant professor of women’s studies and director of Augsburg’s Women’s Resource Center. After Mattison shared her grandmother’s story and her own experience in Korea, the center agreed to donate the proceeds from its annual benefit performance of The Vagina Monologues to the House of Sharing. Eve Ensler’s episodic play began off-Broadway in 1996. Each year The Vagina Monologues and other theatrical productions are presented across the country by women on college campuses on V-Day, a global movement to stop violence against women and girls. “Since the purpose of performing this show is to fight violence against women by raising awareness about the issue and funds for organizations who do this work, we feel like it was a tremendously successful event,” says Nathanson. “The performances were excellent,” she adds, “beautifully and powerfully delivered.” This year’s production raised more than $800 through ticket sales and donations, which amounts to 940,000 Korean won. “This is such a personal issue for me, and I think it’s amazing that the women of Augsburg took it on,” Mattison says. At the end of each Augsburg performance, Mattison gave a speech about her grandmother. “I felt like she was there with me.” The Vagina Monologues was directed by Julia Sewell, a senior psychology major from Minneapolis. The cast included Irene Abdullah, Veronica Berg, Kia Burton, Amber Davis, Rebecca Dickinson, Sarah Gillund, Annika Gunderson, Lucreshia Grant, Elizabeth Hanson, Brandy Hyatt, Valencia McMurray, Lily Morris, Kris Ness, Magdalen Ng, Shannon O’Brien, Yasameen Sajady, Leann Vice-Reshel, Rochelle Weidner, and Courtney Wiley. WENDI WHEELER ’06 During Krystal Mattison’s year in Korea, she became friends with women, like her own grandmother, called “comfort women,” who were abused by the Japanese military during World War II. These survivors became grandmothers to her, and this year she found a way to help support them. Spring 2010 9 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:33 AM Page 12 THE 22ND ANNUAL NOBEL PEACE PRIZE FORUM 10 Augsburg Now 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:34 AM Page 13 THE 22ND ANNUAL NOBEL PEACE PRIZE FORUM Striving for Peace A Question of Will March 5–6, 2010 In cooperation with the Norwegian Nobel Institute, five Midwestern colleges of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) sponsor the annual Nobel Peace Prize Forum. The colleges, all founded by Norwegian immigrants, sponsor the forum to give recognition to Norway’s international peace efforts and to offer opportunities for Nobel Peace laureates, diplomats, scholars, students, and the general public to engage in dialogue on the dynamics of peacemaking and the underlying causes of conflict and war. The Peace Prize Forum is the Nobel Institute’s only such program or academic affiliation outside Norway. Augsburg College Augustana College Concordia College Luther College St. Olaf College This year’s Peace Prize Forum was held March 5 and 6 on the Augsburg College campus, and honored the work of 2008 Nobel Peace Prize winner Martti Ahtisaari, former president of Finland. The other plenary speakers were Kjell Magne Bondevik, president of the Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights, and Leymah Gbowee, executive director of Women Peace and Security Network-Africa. Prior to the forum, the 15th annual Peace Prize Festival brought together approximately 800 school children and youth to learn about the importance and influence of the Nobel Peace Prize and to honor President Ahtisaari. For more photos of the Nobel Peace Prize Forum and Peace Prize Festival, go to www.augsburg.edu/now Spring 2010 11 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:34 AM Page 14 THE 22ND ANNUAL NOBEL PEACE PRIZE FORUM The Peace Prize Forum is grateful for the support of our sponsors: this year’s host, Augsburg College, for providing the platform and for staging this important event. Together, with all of you in the audience, I look forward to learning from a leader this evening, a man who’s been inspiring in his steadfast belief in peace and transformative in his approach. May we all leave this conference energized by the power of one voice and committed to engaging collaboratively with each other to further the process of achieving peace. Thank you.” Alex Gonzalez ’90 (right), Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, and Pribbenow meet Ahtisaari. Ann Parriott, vice president for human resources at H.B. Fuller, extended greetings at the forum’s opening ceremony. “Good evening. It’s a pleasure to be here with you tonight to help introduce this year’s conference. H.B. Fuller Company is honored to serve as the lead sponsor for the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize Forum. We’re delighted to help welcome our very special guest speaker, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Martti Ahtisaari, and pleased to help and encourage ongoing dialogue and discussion on the topic of peace and conflict resolution. “As a company operating in more than 100 countries for many of our 120-plus years, H.B. Fuller has long embraced the value of diverse global perspectives to solve problems, address challenges, and maximize opportunities in the business sector. We are truly excited to help bring this year’s program to you and by so doing help provide a platform for dialogue, discussion, and diverse perspectives on an issue that affects all of us as global citizens. “We salute the Norwegian Nobel Institute and our academic sponsors, including 12 Augsburg Now Alex Gonzalez ’90 represented Thrivent Financial for Lutherans™ at the forum. Parriott poses with President Martti Ahtisaari (center) and President Pribbenow. Ann and Todd Parriott converse with Augsburg’s MBA director, Steve Zitnick (left). “As a faith-based membership organization, Thrivent Financial seeks to help enable its members to demonstrate their care and concern for others. While organizationally it does not have a global focus, Thrivent Financial does help its members have a global impact through programs such as Thrivent Builds Worldwide and through various Lutheran relief organizations that have a global reach.” Alex Gonzalez, FIC, CLTC, is a partner with the Stonebridge Group. He is a 1990 Augsburg graduate and a member of the Augsburg College Board of Regents. 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:34 AM Page 15 Tim McGough (center) greets Ahtisaari and Pribbenow. McGough Construction and “Bright Green” As a result of their extensive experience with “green” construction and knowledge of sustainable building practices and products, McGough has created the Bright Green sustainable program. A guiding principle of the program is to find creative ways to apply sustainable practices to construction projects in a cost-effective manner. This would include exploring techniques for reducing waste and applying eco-friendly operating practices. McGough has adopted green strategies throughout their company to test cleaning products and utilize advanced recycling strategies. This focus on energy conservation and minimizing waste enables it to export these practices to the construction site and provide useful advice to clients. The centerpiece of Bright Green is the Center of Excellence. The Center of Excellence consists of several sustainability specialists who can provide information and advice to organizations who are considering the implementation of criteria developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) or adopting proven practices to reduce the negative environmental impacts of building design and construction. The center draws upon outside research and industry data, as well as lessons learned “on the ground” from McGough Construction projects. Indeed, McGough is a long-standing member of the USGBC and is a founding sponsor of the local Mississippi Headwaters Chapter in Minnesota. The sustainability specialists in the Center of Excellence maintain active roles in local chapter committees, enabling them to stay well-informed about the most recent developments in sustainable design and construction. McGough, in collaboration with Augsburg, will apply these practices to the Center for Science, Business, and Religion. Kjell Magne Bondevik, president of the Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights, spoke in dialogue with President Ahtisaari at the forum. “In the long term, we can never win the fight [against terrorism] by military means. We need to find out why people are willing to give their lives and we need to address the root causes of terrorism.” Nordic Home Interiors Tim McGough (left) and Mike Hangge, with McGough Construction, speak with Barbara Farley, Augsburg’s vice president for academic affairs and dean of the College. EVENT CONTRIBUTORS: Jeanne M. Voigt Foundation Mary T., Inc. Wells Fargo Winds of Peace Foundation The Omari rug/wall hangings donated to the forum were woven by Nordic Home Interior’s partner, Everest Handicraft Industries, in Katmandu, Nepal. They were hand-knotted in the primitive Nepalese/Tibetan art form of Tibetan wool with 100 knots per square inch. The dove design is Indian silk. DONORS: Baker Tilly Faegre & Benson Norway House Spring 2010 13 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:37 AM Page 16 “ I T ’ S A B O U T F R I E N D S H I P, L E G A C Y, G O O D F O O D , H E R I T A G E , A G I N G — A L L O F T H O S E . ” JIM PEDERSON ’56 On a cold, crisp February morning, photographer Stephen Geffre and I follow Jim Pederson ’56 through ankle-deep snow up a slope to a small log cabin that overlooks Swede Lake. This log cabin, near Star Prairie, Wis., sits on the farm that was homesteaded by Pederson’s great-grandparents in 1872 and that he and his brother, Dwight ’60, now own. They grew up on the farm, moved away to begin their own lives, and now return often with their families and friends. Our reason for being there is to visit the site of an annual celebration that has occurred on the second Saturday of November for the past 50 years. It’s an afternoon each year when Jim and Elaine Pederson host friends and family in the small log cabin for mulled cider and treats before heading to nearby West Immanuel Lutheran Church for lutefisk dinner. This church dinner is a 75-year tradition that now attracts more than 1,200 people for lutefisk, lefse, meatballs, and more. THE BEGINNING OF ENDURING FRIENDSHIPS Jim Pederson says it’s difficult to put a label on this annual gathering. It’s about friendship, legacy, good food, heritage, aging—all of those. Star Tribune columnist Original furniture, art, and history provide the setting for the pre-lutefisk dinner gathering that fills the cabin in November each year. 14 Augsburg Now 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:37 AM Page 17 BY BETSEY NORGARD Lutefisk, a log cabin, and a 50-year legacy Jon Tevlin, who attended last November’s half-century celebration, described it as “an iconic Midwestern living postcard that turned 50 years old Saturday.” At first it was just an annual trek to the lutefisk dinner, but as years went by and friends began to gather beforehand at the farm, the camaraderie there became as important as the meal that followed. While to the Pedersons the gathering marks the final event of the farm’s social season, many of the attendees consider it the beginning of their holiday festivities. Pederson really can’t put his finger on just what glue has held so many of them together for so long. The short answer, he says, is that it was a group of Augsburg friends who started coming out to the country for a church dinner. “The better answer,” he adds, “is that some of us developed friendships that included faculty members who were our mentors and with whom we greatly enjoyed informal times outside the classroom.” Faculty from the 1950s who became regular attendees include Phil Quanbeck Sr., Paul Sonnack, Joel Torstenson, Ralph and Grace Sulerud, and others. For nearly 20 years, retired history professor Carl and Val Chrislock spent many of their summers at the farm, where Carl did a great deal of writing and where Val tended her flower and vegetable gardens. When there were deaths, spouses and families often continued to participate. “Many of us were deeply interested in public service of some kind, whether teaching, the ministry, public policy, or politics,” says Pederson. In the 1950s, when academic freedom was restricted and McCarthyism caused colleges to shy away from controversy, he credits Augsburg and the leadership of President Bernhard Christensen for encouraging political expression and organization. “Augsburg practiced academic freedom while in some institutions it was only preached,” Pederson says. “Political organizations were encouraged on campus. Faculty encouraged students to become involved in political campaigns, and Political Emphasis Week brought speakers from the whole political spectrum. “It was in this cauldron that lasting friendships developed and continued beyond graduation. While politics was a strong interest of a few, the friendships persisted regardless of the chosen vocation,” Pederson says. It all started with the five Auggie Norwegian bachelors who, as students, lived together above Larson’s grocery store— Martin Sabo ’59, Jim ’56 and Dwight ’60 Pederson, Harlan Christianson ’57, and Erwin Christenson ’58. In 1959, Jim and Elaine Pederson (who were not yet married) and Harlan and Lori Christianson decided to drive out to Star Prairie for the lutefisk dinner. Elaine was a student nurse at Deaconess Hospital and Augsburg, and this trip became her introduction to the farm, to lutefisk, and to her future Pederson in-laws. Each year thereafter has brought additional invited friends and families. On November 14, 2009—the 50th anniversary—the count was 67. The group now includes the families and friends of Jim and Elaine and their children, Michelle and Kirk, a 1987 grad; his fiancée Molly; grandchildren Madeline, Emma, and Ginny; and Dwight and his wife, Marion, also a Lutheran Deaconess nurse; daughter Denise; and grandchildren Laura, Thomas, and Helenya. AUGSBURG STORIES PLAY OUT OVER THE YEARS Pederson says he’d like to tie the story of the 50-year gatherings to what they learned at Augsburg. “‘Education for Service’ we thought of as just a phrase, but it really did mean a lot to us—whether in ministry, nursing, government, or politics. It played out, and that’s an important part of the story for me.” The Augsburg-connected stories include the political career of Martin Sabo, which dates back to the days of the five Norwegian bachelors. Pederson, who served as student body president and was active in student political groups, became manager in 1960 for Sabo’s state house endorsement campaign. “And he never lost an election after that,” Pederson comments, about Sabo’s long and distinguished legislative career, marked by his retirement in 2007. In another Augsburg story, Chrislock, who was a regular at the November gatherings, stayed on the farm while he wrote his 1991 book, Watchdog of Loyalty: The Minnesota Commission of Public Safety during World War I. Emeriti professors Ralph and Grace Sulerud, close friends of the Chrislocks, Spring 2010 15 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:37 AM Page 18 Courtesy photo “WE HOPE THIS CARRIES ON FOR ANOTHER 50 YEARS— S O , Y O U N G E R G E N E R AT I O N , W E ’ R E C O U N T I N G O N Y O U . ” ELAINE PEDERSON enjoyed the old farmstead and lake so much that they now have a house there, just down the hill from the log house. And so, the Augsburg connections continue. THE MEANING OF PLACE THE LOG HOUSE AND LEGACY Pederson’s log house, the current gathering place, wasn’t part of the original farm. The original log house disappeared long ago, and Pederson had always wanted something like his great-grandfather built in the 1870s. In 1972, he found neighbors wanting to get rid of an old log house on their farm, and he jumped at the opportunity. Courtesy photo The Pederson ties date back more than 130 years in the community—to that farm now in its sixth generation and to the church originally chartered by his grandparents and their neighbors. The log house to which people come each November is for him an icon of family and heritage. In the invitation letter for last November’s gathering, Pederson mentioned a recent book that weaves together themes of story, place, calling, and purpose. Claiming Your Place at the Fire, by Richard Lieder and David Shapiro, challenges those entering “the second half of their life” to consider these themes in finding purpose in what they choose to do during their elder years. Pederson sees the old farm as the locale where at this annual event these themes of aging and legacy play out. “This is a time where family and friends share life experiences, the happenings of the last year, perhaps recalling mentors from college or elsewhere, many of whom are no longer with us; reminiscing about the good times; the not-so-good times; commiserating over losses or illnesses; sometimes engaging in a bit of gossip. Sometimes it’s small groups huddling to solve the world’s problems.” Collectively, they recall stories, redefine place, renew callings, and reclaim purpose. “Oh yes, and there’s the country church dinner, the ostensible reason for the gathering,” adds Pederson. “Each year, however, we hear some say they really come for the hour or two they spend together before the big meal, sipping cider Norwegian traditional goodies, and sharing treats they bring.” Auggies in the group of 67 at the 50th gathering last November included: (Front row, L to R):, Winnie (Nordlund) Anderson ’61, Elaine Pederson, Vicki (Skor) Pearson ’59, retired art professor Phil Thompson. (Back L to R) Kiel Christianson ’88, Jim Pederson ’56 (not visible) holding granddaughter Ginny, Kirk Pederson ’87 (turned away), Pearl Almquist, Paul Almquist ’59, Eunice Helgeson ’69, professor Garry Hesser, retired librarian Grace Sulerud. 16 Augsburg Now The “five Norweg ian bachelors” re united in 2002 wi Erickson ’56 (cen th Rod ter). (Clockwise, from left): Marti ’59, Harlan Chris n Sabo tianson ’57, Dwigh t Pederson ’60, Er Christenson ’58, win and Jim Pederson ’56. An eclectic mix of history and heritage, the one main room of the cabin is barely able to contain the crowd that gathers. Hanging on the walls are the farm’s homestead documents and old photos; some of the furniture is original. Rosemaling and other memorabilia fill the area. A loft offers sleeping space, and an enclosed porch was added for additional room. In addition to Jim and Dwight, the old farmstead has incorporated the Pedersons’ younger generations. Jim and Elaine’s son, Kirk, has his place on the farm where he and his family enjoy the summer. Their daughter, Michelle, enjoys the solitude and serenity of the farm both in summer and winter. So, as years go by, and the annual lutefisk group continues, children and grandchildren play greater roles. “In 1959,” Pederson says, “none of us could have predicted that 50 years later we would speak of a remarkable tradition that we hope will continue far into the future.” Last November 14, after some traditional Norwegian folk music and hymns, Elaine Pederson announced, “We hope this carries on for another 50 years—so, younger generation, we’re counting on you.” To read more and see photos from earlier gatherings, go to www.augsburg.edu/now a 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:37 AM Page 19 X O B E H T F O OUT s e i g aug ON PAPER , Augsburg College looks a lot like most other liberal arts colleges. We have similar courses, departments, and programs. We teach students to think critically and to lead responsibly in the world, which is what other schools also aim to do. And our students, staff, and faculty don’t look much different than those at the big school across the street or the small campuses across the river. But in person we look and act differently. At Augsburg, we try to put our own creative spin on things and to look at issues from different perspectives. For example, this year some of our first-year students and a group of faculty spent an entire semester working together on a big problem in our first “I-Term.” In another example, students in the Honors program create their very own courses, write and edit their own scholarly journal, and together shape their own learning environment. And, one of our alums has found a very creative way to do community service while also running a thriving business. The stories in this issue represent just a few of the “out-of-the-box” programs, people, and partnerships that make us uniquely Augsburg. Spring 2010 17 18 Augsburg Now 50 students, 5 professors, 1 big problem. Last fall’s I-Term students discussed three big challenges in the non-graded Fate of the Earth course. I-Term students focused on food, fuel, and media in the course. What’s a great way to engage alumni? Introduce them to current students who have similar majors or interests and let them swap stories. In the end, everyone benefits. Yearbooks are keepsakes that link alumni to their college days. IGNITE I-TERM 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:37 AM Page 20 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:37 AM Page 21 HONORS houses in the Honors program. Items such as an olive-leaf crown are emblems for specific I-Term students focused on food, fuel, and media in the course. OUT OF THE BOX The Honors program consists of a combination of classes, students, structure, and a whole lot of creativity. FINNEGANS As a student, Jacquie Berglund ’87 dreamed of helping the working poor. Today her sense of vocation drives her to take leaps of faith that make life better for others. NEIGHBORHOOD Working closely with Cedar-Riverside and Seward residents is just one of the ways we live out our vocation to serve our neighbors. Somali students help their classmates learn more about the symbols and dress in Muslim culture. 100% of the profit from every bottle sold provides help at the grassroots level. Spring 2010 19 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:37 AM Page 22 PURSUING AN IDEAL EDUCATION Imagine your ideal college education. What classes would you take? Who would teach them? What kind of students would you study with? What activities would you take part in? Where would you travel? When Robert Groven set out to restructure the Augsburg College Honors program, he asked faculty and students these sorts of questions. At first, he said, they were silent. “They had just accepted that college is the way it is,” Groven said. But then, they flooded him with ideas. Students wanted more academic challenge and to be pushed by faculty. They wanted courses to include more content and classroom experiences to be more active and engaging than in high school. They wanted to learn outside the classroom and to have opportunities for unconventional learning experiences—the exact sort of education that a small college in the city can provide. BY WENDI WHEELER ’06 The current Honors program house presidents are (clockwise, from front): Adam Spanier, Katie Radford, Becki Iverson, Andrew Fox, David Ishida, Jonathan Chrastek, Kathleen Watson, and Charlie Olson. 20 Augsburg Now 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:37 AM Page 23 UNCONVENTIONAL COURSES Three aspects of Augsburg’s Honors courses distinguish them from courses in other college honors programs. First, each class is specifically created for the Honors program. In other words, it’s not a matter of adding an assignment or text to an existing course or simply creating a new title, Groven says. The content of Honors courses is enriched and the pace is accelerated as well. Second, Honors courses are intentionally interdisciplinary—multiple faculty from different departments teach in each class. This spring, for example, the senior keystone course was taught by faculty whose disciplines include sociology, social work, metro-urban studies, art, English, and theatre. Augsburg’s Honors students in the Liberating Letters class stepped back into ancient Greek times to put Poseidon on trial for the murder of Odysseus’ men and fleet. (L to R): Eric Dooley, Nikki Johnson, Becca Dickinson, and Patrick DuSchane. president, Paul Pribbenow, is one of the lead instructors, focusing on his study of Jane Addams, founder of the settlement house movement. The course, Legacies of Chicago: Ideas and Action in Place, was conceived by Lars Christiansen of the sociology and metrourban studies departments. The course examines how particular places are incubators for unique ideas and actions. In addition to studying about the traditions and concepts that originated in Chicago, the class traveled to the Windy City to experience the “place” firsthand. Finally, each course has a “signature” experience—an unconventional way of learning that involves a high level of effort and also includes a public display of what the students have learned. Students are usually enthusiastic about these experiences, Groven says, because the tasks are generally open-ended and students have more freedom to make decisions about what they learn and how they learn it. In Liberating Letters, a first-year humanities course, students put texts, authors, or fictional characters on trial, serving as judge, jury, prosecution, and defense. But before this class begins, students have to pass a test. In fact, in order to gain admission into the first session, they are required to recite the first stanza of Homer’s Odyssey from memory, solve a riddle about Greek mythology, and present the “prophecies” of three different people who know them well concerning where that student will be in 10 years. A second type of course, which is likely more-than-ideal for many students, is the Student Created Learning Experience, or SCLE. Aptly named, these are classes created by students based on their interests. SCLEs can essentially become an independent study course for one student or 20 students and can be open to all Augsburg students. One of the more popular SCLEs, which generated a great deal of interest when it was first introduced and again this year, was The Art, Science, and History of Brewing. In addition to learning about brewing from the perspective of different disciplines, students also brew two batches of beer and invite guest judges to evaluate the fruits of their labors. This year senior theatre arts major David Ishida created an SCLE on swordplay to fulfill 21 An olive-leaf crown is the emblem of the Hesser Servants House in the Honors program. OUT OF THE BOX The result of all that questioning was a student-centered program where students take responsibility for their own learning, with the full support of the faculty and the resources they need to achieve their goals. “We believe that an ideal education will be different for every student,” Groven says. “We know no one can reach an ideal goal, but we believe the process of exploring and pursuing ideals is essential to college education.” By striving for the ideal, the program has become one where students routinely go above and beyond the requirements outlined in their syllabi. “We set a very high bar, and we insist that they get there. But they set a much higher bar for themselves than we ever would.” 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:37 AM Page 24 very receptive and energized,” Crockett says, “ … not just in the classroom but on campus.” Crockett has engaged 14 current students as research assistants who will read and critique work that he is presenting at an international conference. “I hope they really come at me,” he says. “I’m counting on them to find fresh answers.” EXPERIENCE LIKE NO OTHER Honors senior Nicholas Blixt experiments with ingredients in The Art, Science, and History of Brewing class. a physical education credit but also to explore his interest in medieval history and culture. STUDENTS WHO LOVE TO LEARN Interesting classes and outstanding faculty certainly can combine for a compelling honors program, but the character and quality of the students make Augsburg’s program unique. “We are trying to look beyond good grades and test scores,” Groven comments. “We want intrinsically motivated learners—students who see ideas as living vehicles for human expression and change.” Computer science professor Larry Crockett, who was once the Honors program director, has taught in the program for many years. While he says Honors students are pushed to rise above expectations and challenge each other, he is especially enthusiastic about the extraordinary energy coming from this year’s incoming class. “These students are willing to dig into issues and are 22 Augsburg Now There’s more to Honors at Augsburg than fun classes and energetic students. Honors also provides leadership and scholarship opportunities and fosters an environment where students often start their own activities or groups. “Part of our philosophy is that as much learning should happen outside the classroom as inside,” Groven says. Students are organized into houses, each of which focuses on a different area: scholarship, social justice and service, stewardship, and citizenship. Each house plans and promotes activities and also elects two house presidents who serve on the Honors Council. With faculty advisers, the council sets the policy for the program and helps solve problems. One officially organized non-classroom learning opportunity is the Honors Review, a student-run, student-edited interdisciplinary journal of undergraduate scholarship. Taylor Norman, a senior English major and Honors student, is the current editor-in-chief. This year the Review extended its reach and received 43 submissions from undergraduates all across the country. After articles are selected for publication, Norman and her editorial staff check citations, verify research, and then engage the author to revise and edit. “We wanted to create a scholarly environment with lots of dialogue,” Norman says. All Honors activities and programs serve to support students so they can pursue their academic goals. “Honors tries to show students what amazing talents and abilities they have,” Groven says, and they find countless ways to apply their academic learning. For example, senior Jessica Spanswick, who majored in international relations and minored in peace and global studies, studied in Namibia for a semester and served as a Peace Scholar in connection with the Nobel Peace Prize Forum. Her opportunities to volunteer for World AIDS Day in Namibia and to travel as a scholar to Chiapas, Mexico, gave her valuable hands-on global experience. Honors program students have received many of the highest national and international academic awards available; they have been Fulbright scholars, Goldwater scholars, the College’s first Rhodes scholar, and students who have won National Science Foundation grants—and that’s still just the tip of the iceberg. Part of the program’s mission is to encourage students, many who never thought of themselves as award-winning scholars, to apply for scholarships and publication so that their work can be recognized. These courses, the faculty who teach them, the students who take them, and the learning opportunities that happen outside the classroom all come together to try to create an ideal education for Augsburg Honors program students. “I never think of the Honors program as being done,” Groven says. “The best program will always be different because we are constantly adapting to new technologies, new students, and new problems.” 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:37 AM Page 25 Sophomore Madeline Roe helps a Somali student with her work as part of Trinity Lutheran Congregation’s Safe Place Homework Help program. Across the Twin Cities, Minnesota, and the nation, stories of neighbors and colleges clashing bubble to the surface featuring real town vs. gown tension. Augsburg’s philosophy, however, is very different. Augsburg isn’t building walls or installing large steel gates on campus to keep the outside world out. Instead, Augsburg is reaching further out into the Cedar-Riverside and Seward neighborhoods and, in the process, the College founded by Norwegian Lutherans is working closely with the largest concentration of Somali immigrants in the United States. WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY We believe we are called to serve our neighbor. That is Augsburg’s statement of institutional vocation. Live the experience. Love the city. Learn by living. Those words hang on banners along Riverside Avenue. While the first is formal and the second much more conversational, both, however, sum up what Auggies do. On a near daily basis, Augsburg students BY JEFF SHELMAN spend part of their afternoon at Trinity Lutheran Congregation helping young Somali children with topics ranging from spelling and sentence construction to subtraction and social studies. Several times a week, Auggies serve food in the gym at the Brian Coyle Community Center as part of the Campus Kitchen program. First-year Auggies in the Bonner Leaders program work with nonprofit organizations, most within a mile of campus. 23 OUT OF THE BOX IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD Let’s say one person wanted to match the amount of community service that was completed by Augsburg students during the 2008-09 school year. What would it take? Since Auggies performed 67,000 hours of community service last year, someone would have to work for 2,791 24-hour days—more than 7.5 years—or 8,375 eight-hour work days. That’s a staggering total for a college with 2,000 traditional undergraduates and 4,000 total students. That work has led to Augsburg’s inclusion as one of the top 25 schools in the country for service-learning by U.S.News & World Report and the Carnegie [Foundation] Classification for Community Engagement. Earlier this spring, Augsburg became the only Minnesota college or university and one of only four ELCA schools to be named to the 2009 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction. The President’s Honor Roll is the highest federal recognition an institution can receive for its commitment to volunteering, 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:37 AM Page 26 service-learning, and civic engagement. “We are very proud and honored to be included in the President’s Honor Roll,” Augsburg president Paul C. Pribbenow said. “Civic work and serving our neighbor are at the core of Augsburg’s efforts to educate students for democracy.” Last school year, 900 Augsburg students participated in service-learning and 1,200 students participated in more than 20 hours of community service per semester. Much of the community service takes place in course-embedded service-learning, something that has been part of education at Augsburg for years. MORE THAN JUST SERVICE Augsburg’s work in Cedar-Riverside and Seward, however, is about more than simply donating time; it is also about trying to make the neighborhood safer, more vibrant, and create opportunities for the state’s newest immigrant population. Pribbenow currently chairs the CedarRiverside Partnership, a group that includes larger institutions in the neighborhood including Augsburg, Fairview hospitals, and the University of Minnesota. “There’s a level of trust being built,” said Steve Peacock, Augsburg’s director of community relations. “There are conversations taking place that weren’t before. There’s the coordination of infrastructure and planning among the institutions.” Much of the work has been around safety in the neighborhood. Last summer, for example, the members of the partnership provided funding to ensure security at the Brian Coyle Community Center. There has been much more communication among security at Fairview and Augsburg, the University of Minnesota, and Minneapolis Police Departments. Augsburg has also worked in the neighborhood in other ways, ranging from providing meeting space to sometimes even trying to build bridges. Last year, more than a dozen reporters and editors from the Minneapolis Star Tribune sat in a room in Oren Gateway Center with a dozen or so Somali community leaders and elders. The Somali leaders talked of good things going on in their community that don’t get covered. Star Tribune editors said they would like to tell more stories, but finding Somalis willing to talk is challenging. The Somali leaders—who arrived in the United States having never experienced freedom of the press—gained a better understanding of how the media work. Reporters and editors left with new contacts and resources. CHANGE TO THE CAMPUS Augsburg’s involvement in Cedar-Riverside has led to a change on campus as well. With each passing fall, the number of Auggies of Somali descent grows. This fall, The Somali yarn weaving hanging in President Pribbenow’s office symbolizes the partnership between Augsburg and the East African Women’s Center. there are about 50 Somali students on campus. For some of them, Augsburg was the first college they ever knew. For others, there is a comfort in attending Augsburg. Halimo Adan is a first-year student who grew up in Seward and can see the Augsburg sign atop Mortensen Hall from her home. She’s among the growing number of students on campus wearing both an Augsburg sweatshirt and a hijab, the head covering worn by Muslim women. “People don’t ask stupid questions, they’re very open minded,” said Adan, who came to the U.S. when she was 9 years old. “Even though I’ve been here most of my life, when you get asked questions all the time, you feel like you don’t belong.” But at Augsburg, neighbors are always welcome. First-year students file into the Northern Clay Center to help with clean-up on City Service Day. 24 Augsburg Now 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:37 AM Page 27 For Daley Konchar Farr, the lack of grades was motivation for signing up, but the discussions and professors’ involvement were more rewarding aspects of I-Term. LEARNING TO LEARN WITHOUT ANY A, B, CS 25 OUT OF THE BOX BY JEFF SHELMAN 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:37 AM Page 28 It isn’t quite a chicken or egg kind of question, but it is an academic conundrum along the same line. Just how important are grades on a college campus when it comes to actual learning? Do grades really reflect how much a student has learned? Or do students do just enough to get the grade they want? And what happens if you take letter grades and numerical marks completely out of the equation? That’s what 50 Augsburg first-year students, five professors, and several staff members tried to find out this past fall. The Integrated Term, Fate of the Earth 101: Consumption of Food, Fuel, and Media in Contemporary Culture, was more than just a different way to package and deliver several general education courses; it was a semester that challenged many of the standard conventions about what a college education is or should be. There were no traditional letter grades for this learning community nor was there a static syllabus passed out on the first day. This was a term that focused on doing, on students having a say in what they would be evaluated on, and on professors writing detailed evaluations about both what students had accomplished and where they needed to continue to work. Sitting lifeless in the back row and regurgitating enough facts to pass wasn’t an option this term. “This was much more work than grading,” English professor Robert Cowgill said. “But I thought it was a major success.” Most of the students—many of whom were drawn to the I-Term because of the environmental focus or the alternative evaluation method—agreed. Daley Konchar Farr called the semester-long experiment empowering. Veronica Berg said she was pushed to do things she wasn’t sure were possible just one semester into her college career. Katelin Grote called the whole thing life changing. Some of that was because the I-Term, which showed just how parts of a liberal arts education are interconnected, was their entire load for the semester. I-Term students who successfully completed the course received credit for English 101 or 111 (writing), Religion 100 (Christian Vocation and the Search for Meaning I), History 101 (Western Civilization), Sociology 101 (Introduction to Human Society) and AugSem (first-year seminar). They also completed their Engaging Minneapolis requirement. REASONS FOR NOT GRADING When a group of professors returned from a conference at The Evergreen State College in Washington in 2007, the goal was to find a way for Augsburg to experiment with a learning community model of teaching as well as non-traditional evaluation methods. Over the next two years, the professors worked with the dean’s office to make this a reality. How was this term going to be structured? Were groups such as Faculty Senate supportive? How would students receive credit? How would the narrative evaluations fit into the very traditional transcript? Once hurdles were cleared, plans were set for a three-year pilot program of the nongraded Integrated Term. The faculty designers of the I-Term hope that the students who spend a semester focused on learning instead of simply making a grade will have higher retention and graduation rates. The longer-term outcomes of the experiment won’t be clear for several years, but this group and subsequent groups of I-Term students will be tracked by the College. While the word “experiment” is often tossed around rather loosely on college campuses, the I-Term is certainly unique. Sociology professor Lars Christiansen, an I-Term faculty member who has studied alternative evaluation methods, said that about 15 colleges and universities across the country have experimented with non-graded courses. Some are completely nongraded while others are partially graded The role of media in contemporary culture was a focus for I-Term students. 26 Augsburg Now or have reverted back to traditional grading. Alverno College in Milwaukee is one of the only schools in the Midwest that is grade free. No grades, however, doesn’t equal no evaluation. In almost every case, I-Term students had a greater grasp of where they stood. They worked very closely with the two English professors on their writing, and received regular written feedback from the other faculty members. “It was kind of like tough love,” Maryam Ayir said. “You knew exactly what you had to work on.” Konchar Farr signed up for the ITerm both because of the subject matter, and also because of lack of traditional grades. “Grades are false motivation,” she said. “In high school, I didn’t get anything out of getting As if I didn’t learn. [Here], I really appreciated that things were so discussionbased and how involved the professors were. They were so dedicated to our work.” For Christiansen, the best thing from the semester is that Augsburg now has the framework in place to continue experimenting with alternative evaluation methods. There is now the ability for the narrative evaluations to accompany a student’s transcript. And there is also at least some appetite from students to not have a semester of work boiled down to simply a number. “The majority of students said it was a good Courtesy photo 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:37 AM Page 29 Kwame Collins and other students from the I-Term attended the 350.org event at the State Capitol that was part of an international focus on the climate crisis. LEARNING BY DOING Unchained from the burden of grades, students could concentrate on really learning and figuring out what truly motivates them. And without traditional exercises like exams, students in Fate of the Earth 101 demonstrated their advancement through semester-long projects that incorporated something under the broad umbrella of food, fuel, or media. One group of students met with staff members from Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s office about how the bodies of women are portrayed in advertisements. Pushing Best Buy to be more environmentally friendly in its stores was what another group sought. Others looked into the feasibility of Augsburg capturing solar energy and purchasing more locally grown food. “Those are the kinds of things we were hoping would happen,” Christiansen said. “We were hoping through the experiences of the I-Term that [students] were here to learn and that they were here to understand themselves as possible change agents—and that collaboration is an essential component.” And while most courses end as soon as that final exam is completed, a number of the I-Term students are continuing with the ongoing work of their projects. For example, Berg was part of a group that created the website www.mnhomelessyouth.org. Those students met both with representatives from Minneapolis Public Schools and a group working on homeless issues, before and during the spring semester. “It didn’t just end at the end of the course,” history professor Phil Adamo said. “They continue to be engaged.” Because of what they were asked to do, many of the I-Term students accomplished more than they thought possible just months removed from high school graduation. “We were learning at a different level, we were getting to project ourselves at a bigger level,” Berg said. “To sit at the table as a contributor with some of these agencies was something I didn’t think I’d be able to do for many years.” That theme was a common one. “One thing we repeatedly heard was the notion that they were empowered with what they were able to accomplish by the end of their first semester in college,” religion professor Lori Brandt Hale said. “They were surprised and excited about how they will be able to leverage that moving forward.” CHANGING TEACHING METHODS Like the other I-Term professors, Colin Irvine is back teaching more traditional courses this semester. An English faculty member, Irvine has a collection of writing and literature classes this spring. But Irvine acknowledges that he is teaching differently this semester. And the I-Term had much to do with that. “It made me complicate my classes,” he said. “I’m not content with the way I was teaching before. I’m not content with the assignments I was giving. I’m making them more fun, more relevant, and harder to assess. I can’t allow myself to teach the way I’ve always taught.” Irvine talked about a conversation with a biology major who is taking his environmental literature course this season. The student said he’s been doing the reading, working hard, and attending writing lab sessions. “But he said, ‘I don’t know how I’m doing,’” Irvine said. “I told him, ‘Are you kidding me? That’s exactly what I want you to do, you’re figuring it out, you’re doing great.’” Because just like the I-Term students who have adjusted to courses with traditional grading, almost everyone involved in the experiment has a better idea of what motivates them and just how important learning is. I-TERM CREATORS/DESIGNERS Phil Adamo, History, Medieval Studies Lars Christiansen, Sociology, Metro-Urban Studies Robert Cowgill, English, Film Studies Stacy Cutinella, Lindell Library Lori Brandt Hale, Religion Colin Irvine, English, Environmental Studies Nathan Lind, Information Technology Alyson Olson, TRIO Student Services Beverly Stratton, Religion PROJECTS THE STUDENTS WORKED ON • Addressing women’s body representations in advertising by creating a legislative bill requiring advertisers to indicate the presence of airbrushing and similar touch-ups • Website that centralizes resources for homeless youth in the Twin Cities • Energy-producing exercise bicycles at Augsburg’s Kennedy Center • Reducing water waste at Augsburg • Increasing local food sourcing at Augsburg, particularly meat and cheese • Assisting in developing curbside composting in Minneapolis • Reducing paper waste at Augsburg bookstore • Improving environmental practices at Best Buy • Composting at Maple Grove High School 27 OUT OF THE BOX experience to not have grades and they liked the ongoing evaluation,” he said. “It shows me that if you provide it, people will try it, and many will like it. Why don’t we make it an option generally? It’s not dissimilar to our transportation system. Until the last few years, many didn’t believe they had options other than driving. The I-Term is akin to the Hiawatha (light rail) Line: Once a viable alternative is provided, people may see it as useful and desirable.” 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:37 AM Page 30 CONNECTING THE DOTS FOR GOOD BY BRYAN BARNES “I read this article in Time magazine, interviewing all of these 80- and 90-year-old people,” said Jacquie Berglund ’87. “The overwhelming feedback from their question, ‘If you could change one thing, what would it be?’ was that they all wish they had taken more risks.” That was 1983, when Berglund was in her first year at Augsburg College. Since then, she has faced many risks on her way to building one of Minnesota’s most successful social enterprises—an enterprise that uses beer sales to fund its community foundation. One of her first risks? Backpacking through Europe during her sophomore year in the face of parental disapproval. “My parents didn’t want me to do it,” Berglund said. “[My English professor] said, ‘Jacquie, you should absolutely do it. Let’s come up with a way for you to get credit for it here.’” With that, Berglund ventured across the Atlantic for six weeks under the banner of an Augsburg creative-writing course. Her experience fostered a travel bug that would lead her back for a seven-year long stay in France after Augsburg. “[Backpacking] helped me to think globally and really changed my perspective,” Berglund said. “That was a powerful turning point for me.” Graduating from Augsburg in 1987 with a degree in communication studies Jacquie Berglund ’87 knew that with passion and patience she could fulfill her dream of making a difference in her community. 28 Augsburg Now and a minor in political science, Berglund combined an interest in nonprofits with her travel experience to pursue work in international development. By 1990, she had taken an internship in Paris at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the same group that helped administer the Marshall Plan after World War II. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, Berglund found herself working with the best entrepreneurial minds at OECD to develop regional economies in former Soviet bloc countries. “We were training government officials, and these guys were all communists—they didn’t want to learn [about how to build free markets],” Berglund said. “I felt like we went in and did all of this work and spent all of this money, and I don’t know what impact we really had. Then I thought, ‘you know, I think the real work is done at the grassroots level.’ I would see the people at the grassroots level in these countries and they were really making a difference, and I thought, ‘that’s where I have to be. I’ve got to get there.’ I just didn’t know how I was going to get there, but that’s where I wanted to go.” While at OECD, Berglund earned her master’s degree in international relations from the American Graduate School in Paris. However, by 1997 Berglund found herself needing expensive back surgery, so she returned to the Twin Cities to work as marketing director for her old friend, Kieran Folliard, restauranteur and owner of Cara Irish Pubs LP. One of Berglund’s duties as marketing director was to help Folliard distribute charitable gifts in the Twin Cities. They found themselves Finnegan’s Inc. created the Finnegan’s Community Fund to distribute 100% of profits to local community projects. giving grants to any organization that asked. Eventually, their CFO put the brakes on their charity bonanza and told them they needed a better strategy. Berglund agreed: she recognized from her OECD days that the Cara Pubs money wasn’t making the desired impact. Berglund had also just attended a conference in Washington, D.C., on self-sustaining nonprofits. “That’s when I thought: we sell beer all day,” Berglund said. “What if we create our own beer, and we choose to give all of the profits from this one beer to our own foundation, and then we pick one cause, and we really make a difference? It took me a little while to sell Kieran on the idea.” With that, Berglund and Folliard set about creat- ing Finnegan’s Irish Amber, named in reference to James Joyce’s final work. They contacted James Page Brewing Company in Minneapolis to help them create the beer, eventually selecting one recipe from over 40 options provided by the brewmaster. At this point, Berglund and Folliard realized that running Finnegan’s and its community foundation would consume all of Berglund’s time. That left one choice: quit Cara Pubs and focus on Finnegan’s, or let the idea die. Berglund bought the Finnegan’s recipe for $1 from Folliard. “That was kind of scary, leaving that job, from having a good salary to no salary,” Berglund said. “It was very scary. It was rather terrifying. I’ve had a lot of terrifying moments—I must handle stress well. I’m still waking and talking and not in a straitjacket.” Starting in 2000, Berglund created forprofit Finnegan’s Inc., which donates all of its profits from beer sales to her nonprofit 29 OUT OF THE BOX S 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:42 AM Page 31 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:42 AM Page 32 creation, which is now called Finnegan’s Community Fund. She taught herself the beer trade. James Page produced Finnegan’s on contract, but she was responsible for selling it to distributors. “I didn’t even know what a keg fee was,” Berglund recalls. Finnegan’s community focus sold the beer. Distributors, liquor stores, bars, and restaurants in the Twin Cities were sympathetic to Berglund’s cause—and it helped that the beer was popular during the burgeoning craft brew craze. Though she wasn’t turning a profit yet, Berglund was able to make a $2,000 donation in her first year of operation. Then, James Page Brewing Company shut down in 2002. “I was a mess—I was totally a mess,” Berglund said. “I started to panic: ‘If they go out of business, I’m going to go out of business.’” Thinking quickly, Berglund contacted Mark Stutrud, founder of Summit Brewing Company in St. Paul. “They really didn’t do contract brewing, but I think that [Stutrud] appreciated the community-mindedness of what I was doing,” Berglund said. “Plus, I already had a list of accounts, so I already had a proven track record that I could make this thing work.” To this day, Finnegan’s is produced at Summit. In 2003, Finnegan’s made its first profit. By 2009, Finnegan’s was selling 4,300 barrels per year to 475 restaurants and 600 liquor stores in Minnesota and beyond—which translated into $30,000 for the Finnegan’s Community Fund. That money, in addition to direct donations, is being used to fund local grassroots community organizations that are helping the working poor. “When I came back from France, I 30 Augsburg Now Berglund often considers her own experience growing up as motivation for her drive to do good for others. volunteered in St. Steven’s shelter in Minneapolis,” Berglund said. “I got to see for myself … a lot of these guys get up to work factory jobs at 3 or 4 o’clock in the morning. I saw how many of these guys were working and still homeless.” The needs of the working poor strike a personal chord for Berglund. Growing up, her father started working as a janitor before moving up the ranks, while her mother was a waitress. “I remember as a kid not being able to participate in church activities because we didn’t have the money,” Berglund said. “I feel so fortunate to be able to have done all of the things that I do. I think that, ‘Boy, it’s nice to give back a little bit.’ We owe a bit of gratitude.” That background helps explain Berglund’s drive to build a self-sustaining nonprofit that can help the working poor regardless of government grants or philanthropic whims. But it also comes down to faith in your vocation. “Whenever I do speaking engagements, that’s my whole thing: It’s about following your passions, and then at some point, the dots will connect. Even though it seems so remote that they could possibly connect,” Berglund said. “When I came back and was working in the pub, I thought, ‘What am I doing here? How does this connect to this whole dream job I had of international development projects?’ I just had faith that it’s going to come—I’m going to find it. It’s kind of that whole ‘calling’ thing at Augsburg—I knew I was going to find it, it was just going to take a minute.” 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:42 AM Page 33 IGNITE-ING AUGGIE SPIRIT BY BETSEY NORGARD Senior Brittany Goff is the intern who matches students and alumni for visits and leads the student team. 31 OUT OF THE BOX One student heard about a fire that broke out in one of the houses on campus in the 1970s. Another enjoyed hearing perspectives from a studio art major about his work at a financial organization. A third met with an alum who fondly remembers the tasty cinnamon rolls that students often got in Morton Hall in the mid-1950s. Twenty students working in the Alumni and Constituent Relations Office recently completed the first year of Project IGNITE. They’ve been meeting with alumni to learn more about the role that the College played in the lives of the alumni and to share stories and experiences about Augsburg then and now. Senior Brittany Goff is the intern who directs the students’ work for Project IGNITE. Once she hand-matches students and alums who share similar majors and/or interests, a letter from President Pribbenow is sent explaining the program and alerting the alum to a future call from a student. The student will invite the alum to a meeting preferably on campus or at a convenient coffee shop. That first contact can be a little daunting for students, but knowing they share interests makes it easier. Melissa Herrick, a 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:42 AM Page 34 communication studies and art sophomore, says it tells the alum that “this is not a random call; there’s a reason I’m calling you,” which, in her case, is to share with them what art at Augsburg is like now and to hear about their experience studying art at Augsburg. STUDENTS CONNECT WITH ALUMNI On a cold day last fall, Herrick met with Patti Lloyd ’83, who owns a web development and interactive marketing company. While Lloyd was an international business major and not an art major, the two immediately discovered common interests in web design. Herrick was trying to plan a webpage for an arts project and was delighted to get some ideas from Lloyd. “We had a great meeting,” says Lloyd, “and when she left, I think she felt comfortable that all the resources were there for her project.” One of the meetings that Goff enjoyed was with a physician. In the conversation, Goff, a psychology major, learned about the physician’s medical practice that has included a psychologist and a nurse, enabling him to offer both physical and mental testing and care. “This was really a great experience for me,” Goff says, “to help me consider my future career and the option to be in a practice like that.” Adam Spanier, sophomore class president and an Honors student, says he has met many interesting people through Project IGNITE. His favorite aspect of the program, he says, is “hearing the many different bits of advice and wisdom that alumni have to offer.” 32 Augsburg Now Sophomore Adam Spanier enjoys hearing the advice alumni can give to current students. to-face relationship with a person who is going through the experience.” Haug and his partner returned to campus in December for the Advent Vespers dinner and enjoyed talking with people they knew and meeting others. ALUMNI ENJOY RECONNECTING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES CONTINUE Most alumni contacted in Project IGNITE are graduates who have not been active in alumni activities or participated recently in events. Re-engaging with their alma mater through Project IGNITE has also been enjoyable for them, especially seeing the College through the eyes of current students. Christopher Haug ’79 was one of the alumni Spanier met last fall. “What benefited me the most,” Haug says, “is that I felt I was connected again with my school. There’s nothing like a face- Pat Grans, the Project IGNITE volunteer coordinator, follows up with the interests and/or requests that students bring back from the alumni visits. She crafts individual plans recommending events and volunteer opportunities that could include speaking in a class, inviting a student to job shadow, or helping with registration at an event. Or, Grans can seek to create a tailored opportunity based on the alum’s interests. Grans has now developed volunteer job descriptions and oversees all aspects of recruiting, training, scheduling, supervising, and recognizing volunteers. 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:42 AM Page 35 Project IGNITE means Involving Graduates Now In Thoughtful Engagement. A three-year project funded by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Project IGNITE is designed to serve as a model to help other colleges and universities engage their alumni. What makes Project IGNITE an out-of-the-box program and readily transferable are several components that together offer lifelong alumni connections: • One-to-one interaction between students and alumni—who better to talk about the college experience and re-engage alumni than current students? • Mutually beneficial matching of student and alumni majors and interests • Individualized and ongoing follow-up from a volunteer coordinator to keep engagement and energy alive In the project’s first six months at Augsburg, both attendance at events and volunteering have increased. Of the alumni the IGNITE students have visited during this time, 14% have now attended College events. Nearly 76% have expressed interest in volunteering; and of those, 20% have begun. More than 1,800 hours of volunteer time have been logged. Kim Stone, director of alumni and constituent relations, is excited by the results. She attributes success to the total package Project IGNITE makes possible—engaging students in the alumni program before they graduate, encouraging ongoing attendance at alumni events, and keeping alumni connected to campus through meaningful volunteering. For more information or to arrange to meet with an IGNITE student, contact the Office of Alumni and Constituent Relations at alumni@augsburg.edu or 612-330-1085. “WELCOME TO AUGSBURG” Larry Menzel ’67 retired three years ago from a long career as a Kmart executive in 17 locations across the Upper Midwest. Working with people was what his job was all about, and in retirement he wanted to be able to continue that. When volunteer coordinator Pat Grans sent a mailing about Augsburg’s new volunteer program, it sparked his interest. Despite the fact that he hadn’t been on campus since graduation, he still felt a connection. “Since my wife was gone from the house regularly on Friday mornings, I thought it would be a good time for me to do something, too,” Menzel says. He called Grans to talk about volunteering. Grans suggested that he staff the welcome desk in Oren Gateway Center on Friday mornings, and he thought that sounded good. In addition to helping people find their way around the building and answering questions, he also provides help to the Institutional Advancement staff. Soon he found himself at Homecoming and other events, which pleases his wife, too, as she sees him doing things he enjoys. His advice to current students he meets? “Study hard, find a rewarding life, and follow the principles of God, family, and work—in that order.” Melissa Herrick, an art and communication studies major who is working on a web project, found a natural connection with Patti Lloyd ’83, the owner of a web development company. 33 OUT OF THE BOX HAS PROJECT IGNITE MADE A DIFFERENCE? 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:42 AM Page 36 6 3 7 4 1 3 3 2 34 Augsburg Now 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:42 AM Page 37 6 5 THE BOD POD lives upstairs in the Kennedy Center kinesiology lab. It’s a high-tech apparatus that provides fast, safe, and accurate measurements of body composition, detailing fat and lean body mass. It provides useful information for measuring the effectiveness of exercise and nutrition, fine-tuning top athletic performance, and tracking the progress of obesity and disease. Since Bod Pods are found mostly in fitness facilities and elite training centers, Augsburg’s health, physical education, and health fitness majors are fortunate to have this in their learning portfolio. Used primarily in kinesiology and exercise physiology classes, students learn how to run the Bod Pod, interpret the results, and incorporate recommendations into specialized training plans. If you are interested in being measured in the Bod Pod, contact Professor Tony Clapp at clapp@augsburg.edu or 612-330-1618. THE BOD POD 1. The Bod Pod 2. Data acquisition box—interprets test data coming from the Bod Pod measurements 3. Computer hardware that processes all measurements, manages data, and provides customized printouts of the test data 4. Calibration standards—Weights used to calibrate the Bod Pod before each person is measured, to assure accuracy when the person’s weight is entered 5. “Fast Eddie”—The Auggies’ own skeleton used in health and physical education classes. He arrived when the Kennedy Center opened in 2007. 6. Anatomical charts most likely dating from the opening of Science Hall in 1949, recently found rolled up in a storage closet. They’re now taking on new life in the Health, Physical Education, and Health Fitness Department. 7. Professor Tony Clapp, demonstrating the Bod Pod procedure: • Wear spandex-type swimsuit or bike shorts and a swim cap • Sit in the Bod Pod while measurements take about 30 seconds • Get printouts of test results in about five minutes 35 OUT OF THE BOX 4 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:42 AM Page 38 OUT-OF-THE-BOX PARTNERSHIPS BY REBECCA JOHN The annual Nobel Peace Prize Forum (see story on page 10) is the result of just one of the many unique partnerships at Augsburg College. It is the only program or academic affiliation of the Norwegian Nobel Institute outside of Norway. Here are a few more examples of Augsburg’s out-of-the-box partnerships. NEIGHBORHOOD COLLABORATIONS The Cedar-Riverside Partnership was founded in 2008 to foster collaboration among existing community organizations—the African Development Center, Pillsbury United Communities, West Bank Community Coalition, the Cedar Riverside Neighborhood Revitalization Program, and the West Bank Business Association—and local government bodies and institutions, including the city and county, the University of Minnesota, Fairview Health Services, and Augsburg College. “The goal of the partnership,” says Steve Peacock, Augsburg director of community relations, “is to leverage these organizations’ collective resources to strengthen Cedar-Riverside as a vibrant place in which to live, learn, and work.” The partnership is chaired by Augsburg President Paul Pribbenow. BUSINESS FEASIBILITY Augsburg plays an active role in the Mayo Innovation Scholars Program (MISP), a unique partnership with the Mayo Clinic that offers an experiential learning opportunity for both graduate and undergraduate students. Through the program, undergraduate science and business students from select Minnesota private colleges are teamed with MBA project leaders from either Augsburg College or the University of St. Thomas to evaluate the commercial potential for patent ideas submitted through the Mayo Clinic Office of Intellectual Property. This year, Augsburg had five teams working on projects—two in Rochester and three 36 Augsburg Now in Minneapolis—which presented their findings and recommendations to professionals at the Mayo Clinic in March. SUSTAINABLE URBAN DEVELOPMENT The Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities (ACTC) was founded in 1975 by five liberal arts institutions—Augsburg, Hamline, Macalester, St. Catherine, and St. Thomas—to provide cooperative programs and services for students, faculty, and administrators. In 2009, the consortium’s Chief Academic Officers Council, chaired by Barbara Farley, Augsburg’s vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college, renewed its efforts to explore common areas of academic opportunity using a focus on “sustainable urban development.” “This theme truly ties us together as colleges in the Twin Cities,” Farley says. “Broadly defined, it includes education, health care, transportation, housing, and environmental concerns, offering a rich platform for exploring strategies for enhancing shared academic programs.” PARTNERS ON CAMPUS In recent years, two of Augsburg’s community partnerships have become integrated into the College: Campus Kitchen and the Minnesota Urban Debate League—both of which operate under the Sabo Center for Citizenship and Learning. In 2003, Augsburg became the fourth college campus in the U.S. to join the Campus Kitchens Project. The program provides meal preparation and delivery to neighborhood organizations, nutrition and food preparation classes for area youth, and outreach to the surrounding neighborhood through the continuously expanding community garden. Augsburg is the first college to wholly integrate its Campus Kitchen as part of the College. The Minnesota Urban Debate League has had a relationship with Augsburg since 2004 and became part of the College in summer 2009. This move allowed the league to focus less on administrative operations and more on reaching urban middle and high school students. In the past year, the program doubled to 350 students and teaches important skills like research, writing, thesis development, and public speaking. CONNECTING YOUTH TO CHURCHES Now in its 19th year, the Augsburg College Congregational Youth Basketball League partners with dozens of metro-area churches to involve junior high and high school boys and girls in an annual basketball league that emphasizes fun, service, sponsorship, participation, relationships, and growth in one’s faith. The program was founded by Augsburg pastor Dave Wold to help keep youth connected to churches. The league starts in January each year and culminates in a March tournament on Augsburg’s campus that involves more than 1,000 players, coaches, officials, and volunteers from Augsburg and area churches. “The program is very successful at enabling our churches to connect with a greater number of young people,” Wold said, “providing the opportunity for them to have some fun; get some exercise; build relationships with teammates, coaches, youth workers, and pastors; and have an encounter with God.” To learn about other out-ofthe-box partnerships, go to www.augsburg.edu/now 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:42 AM Page 39 auggie alumni news From the Alumni Board president … Dear Alumni and friends, a 2010 s I write this article we’ve headed into the spring season, and a couple of words appear in my mind: renewal and growth. We can see our world transform around us with a renewed sense of purpose—growth. Trees are beginning to bud, early flowers are beginning to show their bright colors, and I think this lifts our spirits and warms our hearts to the possibility and purpose of our world. It is this renewal and growth I want to discuss with you in this my last article as president of the Alumni Association, as it chooses new leadership in June. One of my main goals this year was that of growth for the Alumni Association—not only in size, but also in commitment and involvement in activities and events that enrich and add value to your life. Every year, the Augsburg Alumni Association’s Board of Directors spends a great deal of time in the creation, planning, and execution of events designed to raise awareness, renew involvement, and create a sense of community among alumni. Looking back on the year, alumni have had opportunities to come together in ways we have not been seen in many years. Ex- HOMECOMING amples of this are the more than 700 alumni who attended the Canterbury Park event last August, the capacity turnout for events such as the Winter Wine Tasting, the Eye-Opener Breakfast Series, and the Young Alumni Council events, as well as alumni attendance at the Guthrie performance of Macbeth. These events and activities are just a few that have been exceedingly well received; and the leadership of the Alumni Association as well as the College’s dedicated staff from the Alumni and Constituent Relations Office plan to enhance what has been a very successful year. I am very grateful for having the opportunity to represent the alumni this year as well as for all of the hard work and dedication of those who helped make this year so successful. I look forward to seeing many of you in the coming years and plan to continue contributing to this wonderful organization dedicated to the alumni of Augsburg College. I wish you a wonderful spring—please continue to check back with the College, as something new will always be springing to life. DANIEL HICKLE ’95 ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT October 14-16, 2010 Reunion Classes 60th Reunion—1950 25th Reunion—1985 50th Reunion—1960 10th Reunion—2000 40th Reunion—1970 Recent Grad/Young Alumni Reunion—2001–2010 If you would like to help make your reunion a success, contact the Office of Alumni and Constituent Relations at 612-330-1085 or alumni@augsburg.edu. Go to www.augsburg.edu/homecoming for updates and reunion information. Spring 2010 37 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:42 AM Page 40 auggie alumni news preciate works I already knew—Michelangelo’s David, the ceiling When I returned to Augsburg in fall 2004 after dropping out a year earlier, I was eager to reform the lackluster study habits that had of the Sistine Chapel—and discovered wonderful artists—Bernini, plagued my academic career. At every fork in the road, I purposeCarravaggio—I previously knew nothing about. fully chose the path I previously would never have considered. And Between visits to churches and museums, we made time for that’s how I, a young man who spent his entire adolescence hating wine tasting on a Tuscan vineyard and a tour on an olive farm. to travel, jumped at the chance to study in El Salvador. Food and drink took on greater significance while in Italy. An exThere, we witnessed previously unimagined poverty and became pansive dinner coupled with lively conversation regularly served as inspired by countless acts of resilience. The little free time availan evening’s event. My roommate, a chatty substitute science able was spent in discussions, journals, and books. There were no teacher from Lester Prairie named Gordon, celebrated his 70th moments wasted and no words ignored. birthday in Orvieto during one of our four-course dinners. That summer, I studied literature in France, and over the next The trip to Italy allowed me to escape the stresses of home for a two years, I went on to study in Nicaragua, Uganda, Rwanda, and couple weeks and infused me with a new appreciation of visual art. Tanzania and volunteered on a mission trip to Mexico. It was a fitting continuation of the travel experiences I began while Upon graduating in May 2007, I feared my opportunities to con- studying at Augsburg. tinue traveling oversees had vanished. The expansive summer and JEREMY ANDERSON ’07 holiday breaks were gone; the immediate walls of my work cubicle provided no horizon to look beyond. Fortunately, I spotted a chance to break the monotony—Professor Kristin Anderson was leading a travel seminar to study Italian art and architecture. In November, I boarded a plane alongside 25 other seminar participants. During our journey through Padua, Venice, Ravenna, Florence, Orvieto, the ancient ruins in Pompeii, Naples, Rome, and Vatican City, we viewed wondrous landscapes, observed countless works of art, and walked through dozens of secularly decorated churches. Day by day, my learning regarding ancient, medieval, Renaissance, and baroque art and architecture grew, thanks to the knowlTravelers to Italy posed for a photo in front of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. (Back row, L to R): Mary Johnson, Judy Reeve ’95, Heidi Hunter, Luke Anderson ’60, Gracia Luoma ’66, Jim Hoseth ’68, Gordon Houk, Larry Turner ’69, Grace Bergstrom, Sue Turner, John Luoma ’65, edge shared by Professor Max Carlson ’09, Kim Stone, Jeremy Anderson ’07, Jason Stone. (Front row, L to R): Art professor Kristin Anderson, Kathy Wilson, Joanne Anderson. I came to better apCress, Susan Hoseth, Mary Rogers, Jill Reister, Deanna Carlson, Amy Kessler, Rose Becker ’04, Sharon Carlson ’72, Susan Carlson. 38 Augsburg Now Photo by Larry Turner ’69 Journeying to Italy 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:42 AM Page 41 The Augsburg Choir Legacy Recordings will be available soon! Three boxed sets, each containing five CDs, present remastered recordings of the Augsburg Choir over 30 years, from 1949–79. Included with each order is a monograph by Bill Halverson ’51 about Leland B. Sateren’s life and career. Cost: $49 per boxed set; $135 for all three boxed sets, plus shipping and handling. For information about availability and ordering, go to www.augsburg.edu/music. The Young Alumni enjoyed some late summer rooftop lawn bowling at Brit’s Pub in September. (L to R): Jay Cavanagh, Rob Wagner ’02, Mike Fasching ’02, Britt Fasching ’02, Ben Carlson ’02, ’09 MBA, and Leah Omar. Young Alumni Summer Series The Young Alumni Summer Series is back in 2010 with exciting new events and favorites from last year. • Seven Corners kick-off party—May 21, 5–8 p.m., at Preston’s • Networking at Fuji-ya in Uptown—June 17, 5–7 p.m. • Minnesota Twins game at Target Field—July 15, 7 p.m. • Auggie Night at the Races, Canterbury Park—Aug. 5 • Summit Brewery tour—Aug. 21, 1 p.m. • End of Summer Bash—Sept. 16, 5–7 p.m., at Seven UltraLounge For more information and to register, go to www.augsburg.edu/alumnievents and join the Young Alumni group on facebook. To get involved in the Young Alumni Council, call 612-330-1178 or e-mail storma@augsburg.edu. auggies GO GREEN The Augsburg Alumni Association is going green The Augsburg College Alumni Association is reducing print mailings and relying more on technology to get the word out about events. To stay in the loop, update your contact information at www.augsburg.edu/alumni or e-mail the Office of Alumni Relations at alumni@augsburg.edu to receive NOW@Augsburg, the monthly news and information e-newsletter. You can also stay up to date by becoming a friend of Auggie Eagle on Facebook. Tourism Ireland Journey to the Emerald Isle Celtic crosses like this one in County Offaly are vivid reminders of Ireland’s rich history. (Note change of date to May 2011) Join friends from the Augsburg College community in early May 2011 for an in-depth journey through Ireland with Phillip Adamo, associate professor and chair of the History Department, director of Augsburg’s medieval studies program, and experienced study tour leader. He looks forward to returning to Ireland with alumni and friends to explore centuries of heroic history including sites dating to 9,000 BC. Experience the intense rugged beauty of land carved from the sea contrasting with the meticulous gardens of stately castles. Discover the spirit and historic significance of Celtic Christianity, visiting ancient monastic communities where Christianity flourished during the Dark Ages. Celebrate contemporary Irish culture with passion-filled music and food at local pubs. To receive additional updates on the tour and be among the first to receive a tour brochure by late June, contact Alumni Relations, 612-330-1178 or alumni@augsburg.edu. Don’t hesitate to be included on the interested list as the alumni tour to Italy last year filled quickly and had a waiting list. Join us at the information session on Tuesday, June 15, 6:30 p.m., Oren Gateway Center. Spring 2010 39 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:42 AM Page 42 alumni class notes 53Ariz., was recognized by AmerDr. Leland Fairbanks, Tempe, icans for Nonsmokers’ Rights (ANR) with the 2009 ANR Smokefree Hero of the Year Award during the National Conference on Tobacco or Health in Phoenix, Ariz. on June 9. He is the longtime president of Arizonans Concerned About Smoking (ACAS). 56son) ’60, Baxter, Minn., were Len Brown and Mavis (Daniel- featured on brainderddispatch.com for their tradition of traveling the region to find and enjoy lutefisk dinners. In 2007, they went to 13 dinners; in 2008, they visited 12; and last year there were 8. Coaches Association (MSHSCA) for leadership in promoting the mission of MSHSCA. He retired in 2007 after a 40-year career teaching mathematics and coaching football, mostly in Alexandria. 69ored as the recipient of the Mary (Strom) Dyrud was hon- 2010 Peter Hess Memorial Faculty Recognition Award on February 22 at the Spring Awards Ceremony at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls, Minn. She has taught there since 1993 and currently teaches Spanish; she and her husband, Loiell ’62, live in Thief River Falls. 58 71Grove, Minn., was selected as 60 74Minn., was named director of 67soccer coach at Bloomington 93lumbia Heights, Minn., was (Minn.) Kennedy High School from 1967–1992 was inducted into the Minnesota State High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame in October. Following retirement in 1992, he served as student activities coordinator until 2001. named to the 2010 “Rising Stars” list by Minnesota Law & Politics, which highlights outstanding attorneys who are under the age of 40 or have fewer than 10 years of practice. She works with the Winthrop & Weinstine law firm in the real estate and campaign finance practice groups. Jerry Peterson, hockey and Tammera (Ericson) Diehm, Co- Christy (Larsen) Branes, Maple Mabeth (Saure) Gyllstrom was recently featured in the Fergus Falls Daily Journal in a story about her background and work in retirement as director of the Zion Lutheran Church choir in Amor, Minn. She currently lives on Otter Tail Lake, Minn. the 2010 Delano (Minn.) Teacher of the Year. She has taught in the district for over 20 years, plus a fouryear stint in Portugal teaching English. She currently teaches second grade. Steven Reznicek, Bemidji, Ruth (Carlson) Olson was inducted into the Faribault High School Hall of Fame on October 1. For 20 years she coached gymnastics, kept score for volleyball, reported for track meets, etc. as the sports liaison between the junior and senior high schools. It was her Augsburg career as an Auggiette on the women’s basketball team, however, that earned her the Hall of Fame spot, because of the Auggiettes’ pioneering efforts in promoting women’s sports. 62 Rev. Jim Quitno and his wife, Mary, Spirit Lake, Iowa, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in June 2009. Jim retired from the pastorate in 2002 after being at Grace Lutheran Church in Spirit Lake for 27 years, but both he and Mary remain active volunteers in retirement. Last year Jim was honored with the June Character Counts Spotlight Award. Dennis Kalpin, Alexandria, Minn., was honored with the George Haun Award last October, given by the Minnesota State High School 40 Augsburg Now the Varsity Singers of Bemidji State University. Otherwise, he is “mostly retired.” 76 Gwedolyn (Peyton) Jackson, Lakeville, Minn., was reappointed by Governor Tim Pawlenty to a four-year position on the Board of the Minnesota State Academies. She is the director of human resources and administrative services with the Edina (Minn.) Public School District. The board governs the Minnesota State Academy for the Blind and the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf, both in Faribault. 77Minn., a storyteller and chilLise Lunge-Larsen, Duluth, dren’s author, visited Concordia College (Moorhead) and Cable, Wis., in February. At Concordia, she visited the Carl B. Ylvisaker Library to teach classes in children’s literature and told stories from Norwegian folklore. She was in Cable the day before the Birkebeiner ski race and told the story of the race that is recounted in her book, The Race of the Birkebeiners. 00and her husband, David, wel- 00her husband, Eric, Blaine, Daria (Reboin) Gordhamer, comed their fourth child, Andrew, on Oct. 6. Big brothers Elijah (6) and Abram (2) and big sister, Eva (4), love him very much. They live in Apple Valley, Minn. Kathleen Lindquist-Blilie, and Minn., announce the birth of their daughter, Anne Elizabeth, born May 6, 2009. She joins her siblings, Andrew (7-1/2), Alexander (5), and Erin (2-1/2). 74their own 35th reunion on Gull Lake, on the same weekend as Lambda House reunion Ten Auggie women, all 1974 grads, had Homecoming last fall. The women began as freshmen on the first floor in Urness, then moved to the ninth floor as sophomores, and then lived at Lambda House (no longer standing) as juniors and seniors. They’ve continued to see each other several times a year and now have begun taking longer trips together. All live in Minnesota, except for Barb (Ruud) Revueltas who lives in Los Angeles. Three women are married to Auggies, who lived together in a house around the corner from Lambda House. The 10 women are Linda (Lundeen) Dunn, Linda (Bailey) Holmen (married to Ken Holmen ’74), Laurie (Johnson) Thorp (married to Tim Thorp ’74), Barb (Ruud) Revueltas, Marlene (Chan) Hui, Debbie (Rowley) Hasti, Mary Ratzlaff, Diane (Johnson) Moen, Carla (Johnson) Velenchenko, Chris (Henry) Thompson (married to Gary Thompson ’74) 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:42 AM Page 43 velopment in Minnesota in July 2009 with TMP Worldwide Advertising and Communications, a full-service recruitment marketing ad agency headquartered in New York. 00 Leslie (Lucas) Wiede ’07 MSW and her husband, Matthew, welcomed twin boys, Lucas and Hunter, on April 3, 2009. 81color paintings of Minnesota 91superintendent of the Spring Jeff Ronneberg became the new Lake Park (Minn.) School District at the beginning of the year. For the past seven years, he has served the district as assistant superintendent. Mary (Primm) Lingen’s water- 01 Sarah (Wilhelm) married Chris Uwimana in Burnsville, Minn., on October 24, surrounded by family and friends. Sarah is a buyer at Supervalu and Chris is a business analyst at DRC. They live in Bloomington, Minn. landscapes were on display at the James Wegner Art Gallery on the West Campus of Riverland Community College in Austin, Minn., in October. Since graduating from Augsburg, she has had more than 30 solo exhibits and numerous group and juried exhibitions. Kurts Strelnieks accepted a position as vice president-account executive, managing existing client relationships, at First Business Capital Corp. in Madison, Wis., in February. 82in October of the Conservation Mike Kilgore was the recipient 02 Jackie (Heyda) married Joshua Eyberg on Nov. 27. She is in her seventh year of teaching in the New Prague (Minn.) Area School District and is a first-grade teacher at Eagle View Elementary School in Elko New Market. They live in Burnsville, Minn. Minnesota Leadership Award for his work as chair of the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, a Minnesota Legislature advisory body in charge of “restoring, protecting, and enhancing of Minnesota’s wetlands, prairies, forests, and habitat for fish, game, and wildlife.” 83at KARE-11 TV, was inducted 95Ariz., stopped working in the Matthew Gooding, Sun Lakes, restaurant business to return to school to become a medical assistant. He expects to graduate in March. 96January to the Carlson Board Richard Gage was elected in of Directors. He is vice president of the Curtis L. Carlson Family Foundation and works at Nebulous/YourMLSsearch.com. Martha (Kenney) Spriggs, who teaches at Andersen United Community School, was surprised and honored with a Milken Educator Award, one of two given in Minnesota that recognizes outstanding teachers. 99a new position as city finance Teresa Walters recently began director in Farmington, Minn. Previously she had been in the same position in Waseca, Minn. Jane Helmke, managing editor into the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Silver Circle in September by the Upper Midwest Chapter. Silver Circle members have displayed superior contributions to the television history and/or NATAS for at least 25 years. 88named the New York 2009 Anne Panning was recently 03 03 Peter Samargia married Angela Gustafson on August 15 in Biwabik, Minn. They traveled around Lake Vermillion on a houseboat for their honeymoon. Peter runs his own business, Attitude Goaltending, LLC, and is a goalie coach for the Augsburg men’s hockey team. Angela is a property manager for Colliers Turley Martin Tucker. Emily Gerard and her husband, Craig Maus, welcomed the birth of their second daughter, Lilia, on November 17. Pictured are Craig and Emily, with Lilia and Caroline. Jeffrey Nodland was recently appointed to the Board of Directors for Texas Petrochemicals Inc. He is currently the president, CEO, and a director of KIK Custom Products. 80came director of business de- Marianne (Lundberg) Kulka be- Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). She was also awarded the Lillian H. Fairchild Award by the University of Rochester for her book, Super America. Her latest work has appeared in West Branch, Ascent (www.readthebestwriting.com), River Teeth, and Women and Gender, a Pearson Longman textbook. She has recently started a blog about reading, writing, teaching, travel, and family called www.thepapersandwich.blogspot.com. 01awarded a 2009 TRiO AchievRev. Rozenia Fuller was ers Award from the Mid-America Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel (MAEOPP). The award recognizes outstanding former participants in the federal TRiO programs who have made significant civic, community, or professional contributions. She was also recently inducted into the 2009 Minneapolis Community and Technical College Hall of Fame. 03finance and human resources Betty J. Vangorder, director of at Apex Print Technologies, has been recognized by Cambridge Who’s Who for demonstrating dedication, leadership, and excellence in financial operations. In her job, she is responsible for managing financial reporting for the company, budgeting, forecasting, overseeing 18 employees and performing human resources duties. Spring 2010 41 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:42 AM Page 44 alumni class notes 06Minn., was awarded his certiLance Campbell, Stewartville, fied public accountant license last fall and was promoted to senior accountant at Wolter & Raak, Ltd. in Rochester, Minn. Michelle (Connolly) married Matthew Ariola on July 11 at Majestic Oaks Golf Club in Ham Lake, Minn. They honeymooned in Alaska and now live in Blaine, Minn. Michelle is a kindergarten teacher in Sorteberg Elementary School in Coon Rapids and Matthew is starting his own plumbing business. 06wife, Sophia, welcomed the 06MBA,Woodbury, Minn., re- 08(Peloquin) married on June arrival of a son, Parker Andrew, on August 27. Sam is a fourth-year divinity student and the student association vice president at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, Calif. cently left her corporate job in downtown Minneapolis to pursue her passion with a career in real estate. She joined The Snyder Team at Re/Max Results in Woodbury as a residential realtor. 20, 2009. Sarah is a youth minister in Cottage Grove, Minn., and Bryan is a second-year law student at St. Thomas. They currently live in Woodbury, Minn. Sam Kanenwisher and his Kyle Loven performed his visionary solo puppet show, my dear Lewis, both in Seattle where he now lives and in Minneapolis in March at the Open Eye Figure Theatre as part of an emerging artists program. A Seattle arts and culture paper called him a “visionary new puppeteer” and a “burgeoning genius.” See story at http://augnet.augsburg.edu/news archives/2010/03_08_10/kyle_loven. html Erin Schmoeckel ’08 Bryan Ludwig and Sarah James Palan recently began as account executive in the advertising department at the Rochester PostBulletin. He was formerly a personal banker with Associated Bank. Becky (Wolf) and Joe Kaarbo ’06 were married on October 3 in St. Louis Park, Minn. Becky works at the University of Wisconsin-Stout in the Involvement and Leadership Office. Joe is the imaging coordinator at Berkley Risk Administrators in Minneapolis. Auggies in the wedding included Joel Wolf ’02, Josh Wolf ’05, Chris Docken ’06, Erik Reynolds ’06, Carrie (Ohnerheim) Wolf ’02, and Evan Boyce ’07. 09cluded Christine Esser ’09, Shawn Boonstra ’09, and Jason Jefferson ’09. Stacey is a substitute teacher in Stacey (Kinder) married Ryan Plasch in August 2009 in Farmington, Minn. Auggies in the wedding party in- Lakeville, Farmington, and Burnsville; Ryan is a mental health counselor for South Metro Human Services. Gerard, Fridley, Minn., 07Minnesota Certified Public Ac- 09Jenna and her sister own Bravo! Procountant license and currently works Nechia Agate received her as a senior consultant for the Business Advisory Services practice at Grant Thornton in Minneapolis. Carolyn Mollner also earned her Certified Public Accountant certificate last fall. She works at Best Buy as a senior tax analyst. 42 Augsburg Now ductions and created a two-woman musical revue, “Christmas Again?” that spoofed Christmas customs. It ran at the Sunshine Factory in New Hope, Minn., during Christmas last fall. Jenna is currently a student at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Kathryn MacAulay is currently one of the 14 Fulbright English Teaching Assistants in Malaysia, and is living in Kemaman, Terenganu. Graduate Programs Erik Bredeson ’06 MBA married Tasha Clifford on May 30, 2009, in Kihel, Maui, Hawaii. Erik works in medical sales; they live in St. Louis Park, Minn. Ryan May ’07 MBA was recently hired at Risdall McKinney Public Relations (RMPR) as a vice president. Sarah Marie (Larson) ’07 MSW married Leon Peter Kyalo on October 3. 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:42 AM Page 45 Send us your news and photos Please tell us about the news in your life, your new job, move, marriage, and births. Don’t forget to send photos! For news of a death, printed notice is required, e.g. an obituary, funeral notice, or program from a memorial service. Send your news items, photos, or change of address by mail to: Augsburg Now Class Notes, Augsburg College, CB 146, 2211 Riverside Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55454, or e-mail alumni@augsburg.edu. You can also submit news at www.augsburg.edu/alumni. ____________________________________________________________ Full name ____________________________________________________________ Maiden name ____________________________________________________________ Class year or last year attended ____________________________________________________________ Street address ____________________________________________________________ City, State, Zip Is this a new address? q Yes q No ____________________________________________________________ Home telephone In Memoriam ____________________________________________________________ E-mail Johnson, Vernel ’42, Tucson, Ariz., age 90, on Oct. 20, after a long illness. English, Dr. Nancy ’73, Duluth, Minn., age 57, on Aug. 8, of cardiac arrest. Myrvik, Quentin ’45, Caswell Beach, N.C., age 88, on Dec. 13. He is a 1960 Distinguished Alumnus. Hain, Ramon “Ray” ’81, Roseville, Minn., age 50, on Nov. 21. ____________________________________________________________ Employer Agrimson, Robb Joel ’83, St. Paul, age 49, on Jan. 6. ____________________________________________________________ Position Woodcock, Delores ’89, Bloomington, Minn., age 83, on Dec. 12. ____________________________________________________________ Work telephone Connors, Patrick ’07, Vail, Colo., age 28, on Dec. 30. Is spouse also a graduate of Augsburg College? q Yes q No Midtling, Rev. John ’49, Minneapolis, age 86, on Oct. 20. Elmberg, Rev. Donald ’50, Mound, Minn., age 85, on Dec. 29. Rust, Alice (Gjesdahl) ’53, Burnsville, Minn., on Dec. 30. Foss Jr, Alfred “Bud” ’54, Hot Springs, Ark., age 77, on Oct. 28. Seaver, Dean ’60, Le Sueur, Minn., age 73, on Jan. 12. Thorpe, Neal O. ’60, Vancouver, Wash., age 71, on March 3. He taught biology, served as department chair at Augsburg College, and is a 2001 Distinguished Alumnus. Hovland, Rev. Peter ’62, Mora, Minn., on Dec. 21. VanDeVoorde, Elaine, Rochester, Minn., on Oct. 26. She was a Master of Arts in Education student in Rochester. Mark, Cindy, Cedar Lake Township, Minn., age 61, on Dec. 13, of cancer. She taught in Augsburg’s program at the Minnesota Women’s Correctional FacilityShakopee. Okay to publish your e-mail address? q Yes q No If yes, class year ________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ Spouse’s name ____________________________________________________________ Maiden name Your news: ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ Wrightsman, Rev. Bruce, Decorah, Iowa, age 75, on Oct. 4, of heart failure and amyloidosis. He taught math, physics, and philosophy at Augsburg College, 1960–63. ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ q I know a student who is interested in attending Augsburg. Hunt, Duane ’62, Lakewood, Colo., on Nov. 13. Spring 2010 43 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:43 AM Page 46 my Auggie experience Aquila Tapio ’10 MAE Naadamaadiwin—Helping one another When she was growing up, Aquila Tapio said she never really knew what she wanted to do. “I just wanted to help people,” she said. Until recently, Tapio and her husband helped Native American children as foster parents through the Indian Child Welfare Act program. And then after the birth of her second child, she decided it was time for her to return to the workforce. “I wanted to help Native American kids and keep doing the work we were doing at home,” she says. So when Tapio discovered Augsburg’s tribal special education program, she knew she had found the right fit. Naadamaadiwin, Ojibwe for “helping one another,” is a partnership between the University of Minnesota-Duluth Center for Indigenous Knowledge and Language Revitalization and the Augsburg College Master of Arts in Education program. Naadamaadiwin is a special education licensure program in emotional behavioral disorders and learning disabilities with a focus on the unique needs of Native American children. For Tapio, a member of the Oglala Lakota in South Dakota, working with Native children and families through the education system is important because education is a “touchy issue” for Native Americans. “We need teachers who know where people come from and who understand the history and trauma families have experienced,” she says. “Having a Native teacher provides comfort to students and their parents.” Tapio is completing her student teaching this term at Longfellow Humanities Magnet School in St. Paul. She says the Naadamaadiwin program has given her a new way to give Native children the consistency and support they need. “No matter how many times you have to tell them something, they will pick it up,” she says. “They are capable. They can do anything.” Naadamaadiwin is a two-year cohort-based program with classes meeting primarily online. For more information, go to www.augsburg.edu/admissions/mae/ and click “Licensure Options.” WENDI WHEELER ’06 44 Augsburg Now 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:43 AM Page 47 Lisa Zeller and Glenn Fuller are founding partners of the The Phaedrus Group (1994), a national training and consulting firm. Lisa Zeller ’81,’89 MAL and Glenn Fuller an augsburg legacy “In addition to an education, Augsburg provided me with the confidence and skills to think critically, to see what’s possible, and to create opportunities. I want to make sure that future generations have this same opportunity. 1-800-273-0617 www.augsburg.edu/giving So, when Glenn and I sat down to do our estate planning and consider our legacy, it was important for us to commit a percentage of our estate to Augsburg College.” 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:43 AM Page 48 Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Minneapolis, MN Permit No. 2031 2211 Riverside Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55454 Second Augsburg Powwow The Augsburg Indigenous Student Association hosted a traditional powwow on Saturday, March 20, in Si Melby Hall. To view more photos from the powwow, go to www.flickr.com/photos/augsburgcollege.
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